Most is often considered to be the superlative form of much and , many.
1. quantifier
You use most to refer to the majority of a group of things or people or the largest part of something.
Most of the houses in the capital don't have piped water.
By stopping smoking you are undoing most of the damage smoking has caused. [+ of]
Sadly, most of the house was destroyed by fire in 1828. [+ of]
Most is also a determiner.
Most people think the Queen has done a good job during her reign.
Most companies are looking to sponsor students on specific courses.
Most is also a pronoun.
Seventeen civilians were hurt. Most are students who had been attending a party.
All of the rooms have private baths, and most have radios and TV.
Synonyms: nearly all, the majority, the mass, almost all More Synonyms of most
2. adjective
You use the most to mean a larger amount than anyone or anything else, or the largest amount possible.
The President himself won the most votes.
The skippers get the most money, and after them the cooks.
Tom had the most authority of all.
Most is also a pronoun.
The most they earn in a day is ten roubles.
3. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
You use most to indicate that something is true or happens to a greater degree or extent than anything else.
What she feared most was becoming like her mother.
What they wanted most from the president was a leader who would try to educate thecountry.
...Professor Morris, the person he most hated.
See most of all
4. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You use most to indicate that someone or something has a greater amount of a particular qualitythan most other things of its kind.
Her children had the best, most elaborate birthday parties in the neighborhood.
He was one of the most influential performers of modern jazz.
If anything, swimming will appeal to her most strongly.
...summer, when the park is most heavily used.
...the most junior of the New York Times music critics.
5. adverb
If you do something the most, you do it to the greatest extent possible or with the greatest frequency.
What question are you asked the most?
Inevitably those who suffer the most are the mothers and children.
The pass rate has risen the most in business studies and music.
6. adverb
You use most in conversations when you want to draw someone's attention to something very interesting or important that you are about to say.
Most surprisingly, quite a few said they don't intend to vote at all.
Most interestingly, the site allows you to create your own trailer by remixing clips.
7. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You use most to emphasize an adjective or adverb.
[formal, emphasis]
I'll be most pleased to speak to them.
I believe he is most painfully anxious about Diana.
8.
See at most/at the most
9.
See make the most of sth
10. for the most part
English Easy Learning GrammarComparisonThe comparative form of an adjective is commonly used to compare two people, things,or states, when you want to say that one thing has a larger or smaller ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarIndefinite pronounsThe indefinite pronouns are used when you do not know or do not need to say preciselywho or what you are referring to. The noun phrase which they substitute ... Read more
-most
(-moʊst)
suffix
-most is added to adjectives in order to form other adjectives that describe something as being further in a particular direction than other things of the samekind.
...the topmost branches of the trees.
Many patients have told me their innermost thoughts.
...the northernmost suburbs of Chicago.
most in British English
(məʊst)
determiner
1.
a.
a great majority of; nearly all
most people like eggs
b.
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)
most of them don't know
most of it is finished
2. the most
3. at most
4. for the most part
5. make the most of
6. than most
7. the most
adverb
8. the most
9. the superlative of much
people welcome a drink most after work
10.
(intensifier)
a most absurd story
11. US and Canadian informal or dialect
almost
most every town in this state
▶ USAGE More and most should be distinguished when used in comparisons. More applies to cases involving two persons, objects, etc, most to cases involving three or more
Word origin
Old English māst or mǣst, whence Middle English moste, mēst; compare Old Frisian maest, Old High German meist, Old Norse mestr
-most in British English
suffix
forming the superlative degree of some adjectives and adverbs
hindmost
uppermost
Word origin
Old English -mǣst, -mest, originally a superlative suffix, later mistakenly taken as derived from mǣst (adv) most
most in American English
(moʊst)
adjective
1. compar. of
many adjective
2.
greatest in amount, quantity, or degree
see also much
3.
greatest in number
see also many
4.
in the greatest number of instances
most fame is fleeting
noun
5.
the greatest amount, quantity or degree
to take most of the credit
6. [with pl. v.]
a.
the greatest number (of persons or things)
most of us are going
b.
the greatest number of persons or things
adverb
7. compar.
many adjective in or to the greatest degree or extent
, used with many adjectives and adverbs (regularly with those of three or more syllables)to form the superlative degree
most horrible, most quickly
8.
very (often preceded by a)
a most beautiful morning
9. Informal
almost; nearly
Idioms:
at (the) most
make the most of
the most
Word origin
ME < OE mast, used as superl. of micel, big (var. of mycel: see much): akin to Goth maists: for IE base see many; (sense 9) for almost
By stopping smoking you are undoing most of the damage caused.
Synonyms
nearly all
the majority
the mass
almost all
the bulk
the lion's share
the preponderance
Usage note
More and most should be distinguished when used in comparisons. More applies to cases involving two people, objects, etc., most to cases involving three or more: John is the more intelligent of the two; he is the most intelligent of the students.