Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In the most excellent or most suitable manner; with most advantage or success: as, he who runs best gets the prize; the best-behaved boy in the school; the best-cultivated fields.
  • In or to the highest degree; to the fullest extent; most fully: as, those who know him best speak highly of him; those best informed say so; the best-abused man in town.
  • Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: said of both persons and things in regard to mental, moral, or physical qualities, whether inherent or acquired: as, the best writers and speakers; the best families; the best judgment; the best years of one's life; a house built of the best materials.
  • Of greatest advantage, usefulness, or suitability for the purpose intended; most advantageous, suitable, appropriate, or desirable: as, the best man for the place; the best way to do anything.
  • Most kind, beneficent, or good: applied to persons: as, the best husband imaginable; which of your brothers is best to you?
  • Largest; greatest; most: as, we spent the best part of three days in getting there.
  • noun The highest possible state of excellence; the best quality or property of a person or thing.
  • noun All that one can do, or show in one's self: often used in this sense with the possessive pronouns my, thy, his, their, etc.: as, I will do my best to advance your interests; she is bent on looking her best; he did all he could to appear at his best in that performance.
  • noun The best. The best people collectively; those of the highest standing in any respect, but especially socially or intellectually.
  • noun The best things, or a thing of the best quality: as, he always buys the best; dressed in one's best.
  • noun Often used in speaking of things or events that are not so good or favorable as was expected or was to be wished: as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
  • To get the better of; outdo; surpass.
  • To overreach or outwit: as, to best a client.
  • To defeat in a contest; do better than; beat; hence, in pugilism, to thrash soundly; drub; defeat at fisticuffs.
  • Specifically, noting a certain grade of wrought-iron, which is generally divided into four grades: crown, best, best best, and best best best or treble best.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb colloq. To get the better of.
  • In the highest degree; beyond all others.
  • To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
  • Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly.
  • noun Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action.
  • noun in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best very short.
  • noun [Obs.] finally.
  • noun to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or unfairly.
  • noun To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
  • adjective Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent.
  • adjective Most advanced; most correct or complete.
  • adjective Most; largest.
  • adjective the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective superlative form of good: most good.
  • adverb superlative form of well: most well.
  • noun uncountable The supreme effort one can make
  • noun countable The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
  • verb transitive To beat in a contest; to surpass in skill or achievement.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
  • adjective (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities
  • adverb from a position of superiority or authority
  • verb get the better of
  • adverb it would be sensible
  • noun the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others
  • noun Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
  • adverb in a most excellent way or manner
  • noun the supreme effort one can make

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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"), German beste ("best"), Danish bedst ("best"), Swedish bäst ("best"), Icelandic bestur ("best"). More at better.

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Examples

  • In town, Letebele, Kodumela's driver, dropped me off at CashBuild to get my first of 3 quotations you get 3 and then pick the best deal..best prices and best materials.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Megan aka Mmapula Reamogetse 2009

  • In town, Letebele, Kodumela's driver, dropped me off at CashBuild to get my first of 3 quotations you get 3 and then pick the best deal..best prices and best materials.

    No Stress Megan aka Mmapula Reamogetse 2009

  • See best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies,  best toys for babies 4-10 months old, and best toys for babies 9 months to 1 year old for more buying advice.

    Holiday guide: Best toys for babies 1 to 3 years old 2009

  • Honestly, in my heart of hearts, I believe that McPalin at best, * at best* don't care whether or not people at their rallies voice homicidal intentions towards Obama.

    witch burns, film at 11 2008

  • We want recipes for this event to be *the best of the best* herb recipes from great cooks.

    A Special Weekend Herb Blogging Event ! Tell Us Your Very Favorite Herb Kalyn Denny 2006

  • This concept of fun should include more than the few dozen people willing to grind their way through an asinine number of hours to become the best of the best*.

    MMOG Nation » The Nature of the Game 2004

  • Notwithstanding such an editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in the Valley of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost unexceptionably good, whatever he may have rejected; and one of the best, if not _the best_, article in the whole work, has been contributed by the editor himself.

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 340, Supplementary Number (1828) Various

  • Lord Normanby has written one of the best, if not _the best_, of this class of works, the tendency of which is in most instances of questionable character.

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 289, December 22, 1827 Various

  • "I love thee best, O _most best_." and in _King Lear_, Act ii.

    Notes and Queries, Number 47, September 21, 1850 Various

  • Pray take what measures you deem best, and let us have the _best_ officer that we can get.

    The Diamond Coterie Lawrence L. Lynch

  • The can of chickpeas in the pantry has a "best by" date that passed two weeks ago. The loaf of bread on the countertop boasts a "sell by" date of today. And then there's the Manchego cheese in the deli drawer, which comes stamped with an "enjoy by" date that's just around the corner. So is it time to toss these groceries?

    Confused by 'best by' or 'use by' labels? The FDA wants your input to reduce food waste Maria Godoy 2024

  • According to the FDA, Americans waste around 133 billion pounds of food every year — roughly 30-40% of the country’s entire food supply. A significant factor in that food waste is consumers throwing out wholesome food due to confusion stemming from date labels like “use by,” “sell by,” and “best by.”

    Is It Okay to Eat Expired Canned Food? | Food Bank of the Rockies Food Bank of the Rockies 2023

  • The can of chickpeas in the pantry has a "best by" date that passed two weeks ago. The loaf of bread on the countertop boasts a "sell by" date of today. And then there's the Manchego cheese in the deli drawer, which comes stamped with an "enjoy by" date that's just around the corner. So is it time to toss these groceries?

    Confused by 'best by' or 'use by' labels? The FDA wants your input to reduce food waste Maria Godoy 2024

  • Fun fact: "best by" dates are a marketing tool, not a health safety indicator. Most foods marked with a "best if used by" date are perfectly fine for weeks, months, or even years after the date has expired. The food companies just want you to consume it within the period it is likely to be at peak quality.

    LPT: always try to check the expiration date on food you’re about to buy blueberrybird24 2025

  • Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. You’ll know when you open the package if the food has lost quality.

    Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out! 2025

  • Fun fact: "best by" dates are a marketing tool, not a health safety indicator. Most foods marked with a "best if used by" date are perfectly fine for weeks, months, or even years after the date has expired. The food companies just want you to consume it within the period it is likely to be at peak quality.

    LPT: always try to check the expiration date on food you’re about to buy blueberrybird24 2025

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