Link Centre Dictionary

Also Superlative of good

best

UK/bɛst/ US/ˈbɛst/ very common
adjective (2) adverb (3) noun (3) verb (1)

adjective

1.

(superlative of `good'') having the most positive qualities

  • “the best film of the year”
  • “the best solution”
  • “the best time for planting”
  • “wore his best suit”
Antonyms
Similar
2.

(comparative and superlative of `well'') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable

  • “it would be better to speak to him”
  • “the White House thought it best not to respond”
Synonyms
Similar

adverb

1.

in a most excellent way or manner

  • “he played best after a couple of martinis”
2.

it would be sensible

  • “you”
3.

from a position of superiority or authority

  • “father knows best”
  • “I know better.”
Synonyms

noun

1.

the supreme effort one can make

  • “they did their best”
Antonyms
2.

the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others

  • “he could beat the best of them”
Synonyms
3.

Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

Synonyms

verb

1.

get the better of

  • “the goal was to best the competition”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).

Phrases

  • accidents will happen in the best regulated families
  • all for the best
  • all the best
  • as best as one can
  • as best one can
  • at best
  • at one's best
  • at the best
  • at the best of times
  • attack is the best form of defence
  • attack is the best form of defense
  • best and fairest

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See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.