UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbɛst/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/bɛst/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(best)
best/bɛst/USA pronunciationadj.,superlative form of good.
of the highest quality; the most excellent:Only the best students apply to our school.
most suitable or appropriate; of most benefit or of greatest advantage:Is this the best way to handle the problem?[it + be + ~ + clause]I thought it would be best if we discussed this first.[it + be + ~ + to + verb]It would be best not to wake her up.
adv.,superlative form of well.
most excellently or suitably; most well: They gave her an opera role that best suits her voice.
in or to the highest degree; most:She is the best-known actress of our time.
of the highest qualityexcellenceor standing:the best work; the best students.
most advantageoussuitableor desirable:the best way.
largest; most:the best part of a day.
adv.,[superl. of]well[with]better[as compar.]
most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success:an opera role that best suits her voice.
in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination):best-suited;best-known;best-loved.
Idiomsas best one canin the best way possible under the circumstances:We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.
Idiomshad bestwould be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to:You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.
n.
something or someone that is best:They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.
a person's finest clothing:It's important that you wear your best.
a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often prec. by at).
a person's highest degree of competenceinspirationetc. (often prec. by at).
the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often prec. by at):cabinetmaking at its best.
the best effort that a persongroupor thing can make:Their best fell far short of excellence.
a person's best wishes or kindest regards:Please give my best to your father.
Idiomsall for the bestfor the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage:At the time it was hard to realize how it could be all for the best.Also, for the best.
Idiomsat bestunder the most favorable circumstances:You may expect to be treated civillyat best.
Idiomsget or have the best of:
to gain the advantage over.
to defeat; subdue:His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.
Idiomsmake the best ofto cope with in the best way possible:to make the best of a bad situation.
Idiomswith the beston a par with the most capable:He can play bridge with the best.
v.t.
to get the better of; defeat; beat:He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.
bef. 900; Middle English beste, Old English betstbest; cognate with Dutch best, Old High German bezzist (German best)Old Norse bezt, Gothic batists. See better1-est
Best(best),USA pronunciationn.
BiographicalCharles Herbert1899–1978Canadian physiologistborn in the U.S.: one of the discoverers of insulin.
in a manner surpassing all others; most excellentlyadvantageouslyattractivelyetc
n
the best ⇒ the most outstanding or excellent personthingor group in a category
the most effective effort of which a person or group is capable
a winning majority
Also:all the bestbest wishes
a person's smartest outfit of clothing
at best ⇒
in the most favourable interpretation
under the most favourable conditions
for the best ⇒
for an ultimately good outcome
with good intentions
get the best ofhave the best of ⇒ to surpassdefeator outwit; better
give someone the best ⇒ to concede someone's superiority
make the best of ⇒ 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)
vb
(transitive) to gain the advantage over or defeat
Etymology: Old English betst; related to Gothic batistaOld High German bezzist
bet•ter1/ˈbɛtɚ/USA pronunciationadj.comparative form of good.
of higher or superior quality or excellence: We got a better view of the city from the top of the Empire State Building.
morally superior:Those politicians are no better than thieves.
of superior suitability; preferable:There could not be a better time for action.[it + be + ~ + verb-ing]It's better having short lines with more bank tellers.[it + be + ~ + to + verb]It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.[it + be + ~ + that clause]It's better that we stop meeting like this.
larger; greater:This homework assignment will take the better part of a day to finish.
improved in health; healthier than before:Wellare you feeling any better today?
adv.,[comparative form of well.]
in a more appropriate manner:Behave better when your grandparents come over.
to a greater degree; more completely: She knows the way better than I do.
v.
to (cause to) improve: [~ + object]She worked hard to better the lot of the needy.[no object]Economic conditions have not bettered.
[~ + object] to improve upon: We have bettered last year's production.
of superior quality or excellence:a better coat; a better speech.
morally superior; more virtuous:They are no better than thieves.
of superior suitabilityadvisabilitydesirabilityacceptablenessetc.; preferable:a better time for action.
larger; greater:the better part of a lifetime.
improved in health; healthier than before.
completely recovered in health.
Idiomsno better than one should be[Disparaging.]morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
adv.,[compar. of]well[with]best[as superl.]
in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner:to behave better.
to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly:He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
more:I walked better than a mile to town.
Idiomsbetter off:
in better circumstances.
more fortunate; happier:Because of his asthmahe would be better off in a different climate.
Idiomsgo (someone) one betterto exceed the effort of; be superior to:The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
Idiomshad betterwould be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to:We had better stay indoors today.
Idiomsthink better of:
to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding:I was tempted to make a sarcastic retortbut thought better of it.
to form a higher opinion of.
v.t.
to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve:to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
to improve upon; surpass; exceed:We have bettered last year's production record.
Games[Cards.]to raise (a previous bid).
Idiomsbetter oneselfto improve one's social standingfinancial positionor education:He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
n.
that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser:the better of two choices.
Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdomwealthetc.
Idiomsfor the betterin a way that is an improvement:His health changed for the better.
Idiomsget or have the better of:
to get an advantage over.
to prevail against.
bef. 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser)Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent. to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adverbadverbial) better; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- "fortunate'' is doubtful. See best
15. amend; advancepromote; reformcorrectrectify. See improve.
morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious:a good man.
satisfactory in qualityquantityor degree:a good teacher; good health.
of high quality; excellent.
right; proper; fit:It is good that you are here. His credentials are good.
well-behaved:a good child.
kindbeneficentor friendly:to do a good deed.
honorable or worthy; in good standing:a good name.
educated and refined:She has a good background.
financially sound or safe:His credit is good.
genuine; not counterfeit:a good quarter.
sound or valid:good judgment; good reasons.
reliable; dependable; responsible:good advice.
healthful; beneficial:Fresh fruit is good for you.
in excellent condition; healthy:good teeth.
not spoiled or tainted; edible; palatable:The meat was still good after three months in the freezer.
favorable; propitious:good news.
cheerful; optimistic; amiable:in good spirits.
free of distress or pain; comfortable:to feel good after surgery.
agreeable; pleasant:Have a good time.
attractive; handsome:She has a good figure.
(of the complexion) smooth; free from blemish.
close or intimate; warm:She's a good friend of mine.
sufficient or ample:a good supply.
advantageous; satisfactory for the purpose:a good day for fishing.
competent or skillful; clever:a good manager; good at arithmetic.
skillfully or expertly done:a really good job; a good play.
conforming to rules of grammarusageetc.; correct:good English.
socially proper:good manners.
remaining available to one:Don't throw good money after bad.
comparatively new or of relatively fine quality:Don't play in the mud in your good clothes.
best or most dressy:He wore his good suit to the office today.
full:a good day's journey away.
fairly large or great:a good amount.
free from precipitation or cloudiness:good weather.
Medicine(of a patient's condition) having stable and normal vital signsbeing conscious and comfortableand having excellent appetitemobilityetc.
fertile; rich:good soil.
loyal:a good Democrat.
(of a return or service in tennissquashhandballetc.) landing within the limits of a court or section of a court.
Sport[Horse Racing.](of the surface of a track) drying after a rain so as to be still slightly sticky:This horse runs best on a good track.
Food(of meatesp. beef ) noting or pertaining to the specific grade below "choice,'' containing more lean muscle and less edible fat than "prime'' or "choice.''
favorably regarded (used as an epithet for a shiptownetc.):the good shipSyrena.
Idiomsas good as. See as1 (def. 18).
Idiomsgood for:
certain to repay (money owed) because of integrityfinancial stabilityetc.
the equivalent in value of:Two thousand stamps are good for one coffeepot.
able to survive or continue functioning for (the length of time or the distance indicated):These tires are good for another 10,000 miles.
valid or in effect for (the length of time indicated):a license good for one year.
(used as an expression of approval):Good for you!
Nauticalgood full(of a sail or sails) well filledesp. when sailing close to the wind; clean full; rap full.
Idiomsmake good:
to make recompense for; repay.
to implement an agreement; fulfill.
to be successful.
to substantiate; verify.
to carry out; accomplish; execute:The convicts made good their getaway.
Idiomsno goodwithout value or merit; worthless; contemptible:The check was no good.
n.
profit or advantage; worth; benefit:What good will that do? We shall work for the common good.
excellence or merit; kindness:to do good.
moral righteousness; virtue:to be a power for good.
Food(esp. in the grading of U.S. beef ) an official grade below that of "choice.''
Businessgoods:
possessionsesp. movable effects or personal property.
articles of trade; wares; merchandise:canned goods.
Informal Termswhat has been promised or is expected:to deliver the goods.
Informal Termsthe genuine article.
Informal Termsevidence of guiltas stolen articles:to catch someone with the goods.
cloth or textile material:top-quality linen goods.
British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]merchandise sent by landrather than by water or air.
Idiomscome to no goodto end in failure or as a failure:Her jealous relatives said that she would come to no good.
Idiomsfor goodfinally and permanently; forever:to leave the country for good.Also, for good and all.
the good:
the ideal of goodness or morality.
good things or persons collectively.
Idiomsto the good:
generally advantageous:That's all to the goodbut what do I get out of it?
richer in profit or gain:When he withdrew from the partnershiphe was several thousand dollars to the good.
interj.
(used as an expression of approval or satisfaction):Good! Now we can all go home.
adv.
Informal Termswell.
Informal TermsIdiomsgood andvery; completely; exceedingly:This soup is good and hot.
bef. 900; Middle English (adjectiveadjectivaladverbadverbialand nounnominal); Old English gōd (adjectiveadjectival); cognate with Dutch goed, German gut, Old Norse gōthr, Gothic goths
Good is common as an adverb in informal speechespecially after forms of do: He did good on the test. She sees good with her new glasses. This use does not occur in formal speech or edited writingwhere the adverb well is used instead:He did well on the test.She sees well with her new glasses.The adjective good is standard after linking verbs like tastesmelllookfeelbe, and seem: Everything tastes good. The biscuits smell good. You're looking good today. When used after look or feel,good may refer to spirits as well as health:I'm feeling pretty good this morningready to take on the world.Well is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective used after lookfeel, or other linking verbsit often refers to good health:You're looking well; we missed you while you were in the hospital.See also bad.
Mininga hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain waterpetroleumnatural gasbrineor sulfur.
Geographya spring or natural source of water.
an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelingsemotionsenergyetc.:He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.
a containerreceptacleor reservoir for a liquid:the well of ink in a fountain pen.
Buildingany sunken or deepenclosed spaceas a shaft for air or lightstairsor an elevatorextending vertically through the floors of a building.
[Naut.]
Nauticala part of a weather deck between two superstructuresextending from one side of a vessel to the other.
Nauticala compartment or enclosure around a ship's pumps to make them easily accessible and protect them from being damaged by the cargo.
a hollow compartmentrecessed areaor depression for holding a specific item or itemsas fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.
Miningany shaft dug or bored into the earthas for storage space or a mine.
v.i.
to risespringor gushas waterfrom the earth or some other source (often fol. by upout, or forth):Tears welled up in my eyes.
v.t.
to send welling up or forth:a fountain welling its pure water.
adj.
likeofresemblingfromor used in connection with a well.
bef. 900; (nounnominal) Middle English well(e)Old English wyllewellawelle; cognate with German Welle wave; (verbverbal) Middle English wellen, Old English wellan (cognate with Dutch wellen, Old Norse vella); both nounnominal and verbverbal ultimately akin to weallan to boil