most

[ mohst ]

/ moʊst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: most / mosts on Thesaurus.com

adjective, superlative of much or many, with more as comparative.

in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.

in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.

greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent.

noun

the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.

the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.

the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.

the majority of persons: to be more sensitive than most.

the most, Slang. the ultimate in something: He's the most. That movie was the most.

adverb, superlative of much, with more as comparative.

in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination -est): most rapid; most wisely.

extremely; very: a most puzzling case.

Informal. almost or nearly.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about most

at the most, at the maximum.Also at most.

for the most part. part (def. 34).

make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully:to make the most of an opportunity.

Origin of most

First recorded before 900; Middle English most(e), Old English māst; replacing Middle English mest(e),Old English mǣst; cognate with German meist, Gothic maists; see more

synonym study for most

11. See almost.

usage note for most

11. The adverb most, a shortened form of almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and everybody; the adjectives all, any, and every; and adverbs like anywhere and everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH most

almost, most

Words nearby most

moss rose, moss stitch, mosstrooper, mossy, mossy horn, most, Mostaganem, Mostar, mostest, most-favored-nation, most-favored-nation clause

Other definitions for most (2 of 2)

-most

a combining form of most occurring in a series of superlatives: foremost; utmost.

Origin of -most

Middle English -most; replacing Middle English, Old English -mest, double superlative suffix, equivalent to -ma superlative suffix (as in Old English forma first; compare Latin prīmus) + -est¹; later identified with most

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use most in a sentence

Turkey has had more than a decade of economic boom, and is now the sixth-most-visited tourist destination in the world.
The Women Battling an Islamist Strongman|Christina Asquith|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Since then, Abilify has risen from the fifth-most-prescribed drug to the top of the heap.
Mother’s Little Anti-Psychotic Is Worth $6.9 Billion A Year|Jay Michaelson|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Daughter” was the second-most Googled search term for the Louisiana race, the Washington Examiner reported.
Mary Landrieu-Bill Cassidy Louisiana Senate Race Heads to a Runoff|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most-intact section of this image is the dark, bowl-shaped object.
Clues From SpaceShipTwo’s Wreckage: Did the Crew Compartment Fail?|Clive Irving|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The most recent numbers place it as the seventh-most unequal among 35 OECD states.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had been down into the bottom-most pit of hell, and the sights that he had seen there had withered him up.
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
The top-most bud waits only through the twelve hours of a single day to open.
The College, the Market, and the Court|Caroline H. Dall
Her father had no son living, therefore she was an only child, and the most-sought-after of any maiden in that band.
Red Hunters And the Animal People|Charles A. Eastman
The noblest and most-varied scenery in the north-west Himalaya is in the catchment area of the Jhelam.
The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir|Sir James McCrone Douie
The birds were filling the top-most branches, a gathering of the clans, evidently, for the day's start.
Roof and Meadow|Dallas Lore Sharp

British Dictionary definitions for most (1 of 2)

most

/ (məʊst) /

determiner

a great majority of; nearly allmost people like eggs
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)most of them don't know; most of it is finished

the most

the superlative of many, much you have the most money; the most apples
(as pronoun)the most he can afford is two pounds

at most or at the most at the maximumthat girl is four at the most

for the most part generally

make the most of to use to the best advantageshe makes the most of her accent

than most than most othersthe leaves are greener than most

the most slang, mainly US wonderfulthat chick's the most

adverb

the most used to form the superlative of some adjectives and adverbsthe most beautiful daughter of all

the superlative of much people welcome a drink most after work

(intensifier)a most absurd story

US and Canadian informal, or dialect almostmost every town in this state; John is the more intelligent of the two; he is the most intelligent of the students

Word Origin for most

Old English māst or mǣst, whence Middle English moste, mēst; compare Old Frisian maest, Old High German meist, Old Norse mestr

usage for most

More and most should be distinguished when used in comparisons. More applies to cases involving two persons, objects, etc, most to cases involving three or more

British Dictionary definitions for most (2 of 2)

-most

suffix

forming the superlative degree of some adjectives and adverbshindmost; uppermost

Word Origin for -most

Old English -mǣst, -mest, originally a superlative suffix, later mistakenly taken as derived from mǣst (adv) most

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with most

most

see at most; for the most part; make the most of.

most

Idioms about most

Origin of most

synonym study for most

usage note for most

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH most

Words nearby most

Other definitions for most (2 of 2)

Origin of -most

Words related to most

How to use most in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for most (1 of 2)

Word Origin for most

usage for most

British Dictionary definitions for most (2 of 2)

Word Origin for -most

Other Idioms and Phrases with most