Best Definition

bĕst
bested, bests
adjective
Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality; most excellent.
The best performer; the best grade of ore.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
Most satisfactory, suitable, or useful; most desirable.
The best solution; the best time for planting.
American Heritage
Of the most excellent sort; surpassing all others.
Webster's New World
Greatest; most.
He spoke for the best part of an hour.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
  • realest
  • truest
  • brightest
  • fairest
  • fittest
  • bonniest
  • nicest
  • ablest
  • kindliest
  • pleasantest
  • biggest
  • greatest
  • largest
  • tidiest
  • healthiest
Antonyms:
adverb
In a most excellent way; most creditably or advantageously.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
To the greatest degree or extent; most.
American Heritage
In the most excellent manner; in the most suitable way.
Webster's New World
In the highest degree; to the greatest extent; most.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
bests
One that surpasses all others.
American Heritage
People of the highest worth, ability, or reputation.
Among the best in his profession.
Webster's New World
The best part, moment, or value.
The best is still to come. Let's get the best out of life.
American Heritage
The thing, condition, circumstance, action, etc. that is most excellent, most suitable, etc.
Webster's New World
The optimum condition or quality.
Look your best. She was at her best in the freestyle competition.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
bested, bests
To get the better of; beat.
American Heritage
To win out over; defeat or outdo.
Webster's New World

To surpass in skill or achievement.

Wiktionary

To beat in a contest;

Wiktionary
Antonyms:
pronoun

A surname​.

Wiktionary
idiom
at best
  • Interpreted most favorably; at the most:

    no more than 40 people at best in attendance.

  • Under the most favorable conditions:

    has a top speed of 20 miles per hour at best.

American Heritage
for the best
  • With an ultimately positive or preferable result.
American Heritage
get
  • To outdo or outwit; defeat:

    My opponent got the best of me in the debate.

American Heritage
make the best of
  • To accept (a bad situation) in as good a light as possible.
American Heritage
all for the best
  • turning out to be good or fortunate after all
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Best

Noun

Singular:
best
Plural:
bests

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Best

Origin of Best

  • From Middle English beste, from Old English betst, betest (“best”), from Proto-Germanic *batistaz (“best”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- (“good”). Cognate with Scots best (“best”), West Frisian best (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), Low German best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Icelandic bestur (“best”). More at better.

    From Wiktionary

  • From German Beste (“a river in Germany”) or from Anglo-Norman beste (“beast”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English betst bhad- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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