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most
[ mohst ]
/ moʊst /
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adjective, superlative of much or many, with more as comparative.
noun
adverb, superlative of much, with more as comparative.
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…
Idioms about most
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, mostWords nearby most
Other definitions for most (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use most in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for most (1 of 2)
most
/ (məʊst) /
determiner
adverb
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
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Other Idioms and Phrases with most
most
see at most; for the most part; make the most of.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.