best
1 Americanadjective
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of the highest qualityexcellenceor standing.
I do my best work after meditation.
Singling out the student with the top GPA is not always the most effective way to find the best students.
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most advantageoussuitableor desirable.
We've investigated a number of methodsbut this is the best way.
adverb
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most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success.
I think it will be an opera role that best suits her voice.
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in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination).
Shakespeare's best-known poems are his sonnetsbut he also wrote narrative poems.
Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy remain two of the United States' best-loved First Ladies.
Your security system company can advise you about the features best suited for your home.
noun
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the best, something or someone that is the most excellentmost suitableof the highest qualityor the highest degree (often used withof ).
They always demand and get the best.
The best of us can make mistakes.
To the best of my knowledgethis was the first use of that word in print.
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a person's finest clothing.
It's important that you wear your best.
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a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded byat ).
She's not at her best before her morning coffeeso you might want to wait a few minutes to talk to her.
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a person's highest degree of competenceinspirationetc. (often preceded byat ).
He's at his best when he works in a team.
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the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded byat ).
These gorgeous oak kitchen cabinets are an example of cabinetmaking at its best.
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the maximum effort that a persongroupor thing can make.
Their best fell far short of excellence.
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a person's good wishes or kindest regards.
Please give my best to your father.
verb (used with object)
idioms
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the best part of, most of.
Repairing the window took the best part of a day.
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at best, under the most favorable circumstances.
You may expect to be treated civillyat best.
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all for the best, for the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage: Also for the best
It turned out to be all for the bestthough at the time we didn’t realize it.
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make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible.
The rain makes it a lot harder to have a picnicbut we know how to make the best of a bad situation.
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as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances.
We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.
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get / have the best of,
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to gain the advantage over.
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to defeat; subdue.
His allergies get the best of him from time to time.
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best of both worlds, the most excellent or desirable parts of two things combinedespecially two things that might otherwise be difficult to reconcile.
With a quiet rural atmosphere and a short commute time into the citythis suburb is ideal for office workers who want the best of both worlds.
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had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to.
You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.
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with the best, on a par with the most capable.
He can play bridge with the best.
noun
adjective
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the superlative of good
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most excellent of a particular groupcategoryetc
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most suitableadvantageousdesirableattractiveetc
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most of
the best part of an hour
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to do one's utmost to make progress
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to hurry
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adverb
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the superlative of well 1
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in a manner surpassing all others; most excellentlyadvantageouslyattractivelyetc
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(in combination) in or to the greatest degree or extent; most
the best-loved hero
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as effectively as possible within one's limitations
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would be wisesensibleetcto
you had best go now
noun
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the most outstanding or excellent personthingor group in a category
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(often preceded by at) the most excellentpleasingor skilled quality or condition
journalism at its best
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the most effective effort of which a person or group is capable
even their best was inadequate
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a winning majority
the best of three games
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Also: all the best. best wishes
she sent him her best
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a person's smartest outfit of clothing
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in the most favourable interpretation
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under the most favourable conditions
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-
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for an ultimately good outcome
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with good intentions
he meant it for the best
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to surpassdefeator outwit; better
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to concede someone's superiority
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to cope as well as possible in the unfavourable circumstances of (often in the phrases make the best of a bad jobmake the best of it )
-
informal six strokes with a cane on the buttocks or hand
verb
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 19791986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998200020032005, 2006200720092012noun
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Charles Herbert . 1899–1978Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922
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George . 1946–2005Northern Ireland footballer
Etymology
Origin of best
First recorded before 900; Middle English beste, Old English betstbest; cognate with Dutch best, Old High German bezzist ( German best )Old Norse bezt, Gothic batists; better 1-est 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The actor is best known for starring as Brad Taylor in “Home Improvement,” the eldest child of the show’s core family.
From Los Angeles Times
“You have depression in your familyyour father in particular. I’d classify you as a depressive. It’s in your best interests to continue on the medication.”
From Salon
“Going on testosterone is the single best decision I have ever made in my life and that is not an exaggeration,” they added.
From Salon
The ban was the "best way to minimise the risks" to the local communityplayers and fanssaid Mr O'Hara.
From BBC
Panahi has won a host of prizes at European film festivals and showcased his debut film "The White Balloon" in Cannes in 1995 which won an award for best first feature.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridgedbased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary© Random HouseInc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 200220011995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
