most

¹

[ mohst ]

adjective

1. in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number:

   to win the most votes.

2. in the majority of instances:

   Most operations are successful.

3. greatest, as in size or extent:

   the most talent.

noun

1. the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost:

   The most I can hope for is a passing grade.

2. the greatest number or the majority of a class specified:

   Most of his writing is rubbish.

3. the greatest number:

   The most this room will seat is 150.

4. the majority of persons:

   to be more sensitive than most.

5. the most, Slang. the ultimate in something:

   He's the most. That movie was the most.

adverb

1. 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.

2. extremely; very:

   a most puzzling case.

3. Informal. almost or nearly.

-most

²

1. a combining form of most occurring in a series of superlatives:

   foremost; utmost.

-most

¹

suffix

1. forming the superlative degree of some adjectives and adverbs

   uppermost

   hindmost

most

²

/ məʊst /

determiner

1. 1. a great majority of; nearly all

      most people like eggs

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      most of them don't know

      most of it is finished

2. the most
   the most
   1. the superlative of many much

      you have the most money

      the most apples

   2. ( as pronoun )

      the most he can afford is two pounds

3. at most
   at mostat the most at the maximum

   that girl is four at the most

4. for the most part
   for the most part generally
5. make the most of
   make the most of to use to the best advantage

   she makes the most of her accent

6. than most
   than most than most others

   the leaves are greener than most

7. the most slang.
   the most wonderful

   that chick's the most

adverb

1. the most
   the most used to form the superlative of some adjectives and adverbs

   the most beautiful daughter of all

2. See much
   the superlative of much

   people welcome a drink most after work

3. (intensifier)

   a most absurd story

4. informal.
   almost

   he is the most intelligent of the students

   John is the more intelligent of the two

   most every town in this state

Usage Note

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.

Usage

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of most¹

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; more

Origin of most²

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 ) + -est ¹; later identified with most

Word History and Origins

Origin of most¹

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

Origin of most²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at the most, at the maximum. Also at most.
2. make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully:

   to make the most of an opportunity.

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

More idioms and phrases containing most

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

Synonym Study

See almost.

Example Sentences

Turkey has had more than a decade of economic boom, and is now the sixth-most-visited tourist destination in the world.

From The Daily Beast

Since then, Abilify has risen from the fifth-most-prescribed drug to the top of the heap.

From The Daily Beast

“Daughter” was the second-most Googled search term for the Louisiana race, the Washington Examiner reported.

From The Daily Beast

The most-intact section of this image is the dark, bowl-shaped object.

From The Daily Beast

The most recent numbers place it as the seventh-most unequal among 35 OECD states.

From The 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.

From Project Gutenberg

The top-most bud waits only through the twelve hours of a single day to open.

From Project Gutenberg

Her father had no son living, therefore she was an only child, and the most-sought-after of any maiden in that band.

From Project Gutenberg

The noblest and most-varied scenery in the north-west Himalaya is in the catchment area of the Jhelam.

From Project Gutenberg

The birds were filling the top-most branches, a gathering of the clans, evidently, for the day's start.

From Project Gutenberg