best
/bɛst
/adjectiveThere are philosophies and religions that deny that, but it seems to me that it is clear that the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley, and not just because you slipped up in your litany of positive thoughts.
1Of the most excellent or desirable type or quality: the best midfielder in the country how to obtain the best results from your machine her best black suit...
- Only a few of the very best pedigree pigs can be kept for breeding.
- In fact her son Lindsay was Rebecca's very best friend when they were small children.
- We need to know our children are receiving the very best care from professional educationalists.
Synonyms
finest, greatest, top, foremost, leading, pre-eminent, premier, prime, first, chief, principal, supreme, of the highest quality, superlative, unrivalled, second to none, without equal, nonpareil, unsurpassed, unsurpassable, peerless, matchless, unparalleled, unbeaten, unbeatable, unexcelled, optimum, optimal, ultimate, surpassing, incomparable, ideal, perfect;
highest, record-breaking;
British top of the range;
chiefly US top of the line;
French par excellence
informal star, number-one, one-in-a-million, a cut above the rest, top-drawer
rare unexampled
1.1Most enjoyable: some of the best times of my life...
- Twenty nine cars participated in what was regarded as the best and most enjoyable hunt ever.
- He has devoted the best years of his life to preparing impromptu speeches.
- Sometimes it's best to sit close to the fire, looking into the coals, and beyond them.
1.2Most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: do whatever you think best it’s best if we both go...
- In the ancient world, gold was preferred as the best metal for making jewellery.
- Can you recommend the best website to create albums for others to view?
- Again, your local garden centre will be able to recommend the best brands for your needs.
Synonyms
most advantageous, most suitable, most fitting, most appropriate, most apt;
most prudent, most sensible, most advisable, most desirable
Superlative of good
adverb
1To the highest degree; most (used with verbs suggesting a desirable action or state or a successful outcome): they named the pictures they liked best you knew him best well-drained soil suits this plant best...
- Partial or dappled shade and soil enriched with plenty of leaf mould suits them best.
- What do you like best about your course?
- Every woman should wear what she feels suits her best.
Synonyms
most, to the highest/greatest degree
1.1To the highest standard: the best-dressed man in Britain the things we do best...
- Standard pub food is what it does best: Sunday roasts, chips, steak, sausages and mash.
- The new van has one of the best designed cabs, with a good level of standard equipment.
- The idea that they were always the best behaved in the world is almost a joke.
Synonyms
to the highest standard, in the best way
1.2Most appropriately or usefully: pruning is best done in spring jokes are best avoided in essays...
- Religion and politics are apparently the two topics best avoided when engaging in polite conversation.
- Those who have lived through the crisis are perhaps the best equipped to avoid a repeat of it.
- Sundays, when even the swings in the children's playgrounds are padlocked, are best avoided.
Synonyms
most sensibly, most prudently, most wisely, most suitably, most fittingly, most advantageously, most usefully;
better
ought to, should
Superlative of well1
noun (the best)
1That which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable: buy the best you can afford Sarah always had to be the best at everything this film represents the best of mainstream popular cinema...
- Why don't we just grow up and admit that England cannot always be the best at everything.
- He wants to be the best at everything he does, whether it be football or pool or golf.
- They may or may not be the best at any given moment, but no team handles the ball better.
Synonyms
finest, top, cream, choice, choicest, prime, elite, crème de la crème, flower, jewel in the crown, nonpareil
informal the tops, the pick of the bunch
1.1The finest aspect of a person or thing: he brought out the best in people...
- They were fond of each other, and observers of his early work often say that she brought out the best in him.
- They also brought out the best in communities who battled past the point of exhaustion against the rising waters.
- He now enjoyed a sustained spell of supremacy which brought out the best in a determined York defence.
Synonyms
most favourable/pleasant aspect, best point;
advantage, asset, virtue, good point
1.2 (one's best) The highest standard or level that someone or something can reach: this is jazz at its best try to look your best...
- You are expected to look your best at every moment, before, during and after the wedding.
- You have to look your best on these occasions.
- It's party time coming up so this is the ideal opportunity to learn how to look your best.
1.3 (one's best) One’s smartest or most formal clothes: she dressed in her best...
- Soon Elizabeth was dressed in her best.
- Mum was coming and she was all dressed up in her best.
- Sonia watched in amusement as he dressed in his best, getting ready for town.
Synonyms
best clothes, finery, Sunday best
informal best bib and tucker, glad rags
1.4(In sport) a record performance: a lifetime best of 12.0 seconds...See also personal best.
- Molly won a bronze medal in the 200 meter backstroke, swimming a lifetime best of 2:16.42.
- Canada's Perdita Felicien smashed her lifetime best with victory in 12.53 seconds to upset gold medal favourite Brigitte Foster.
- Despite a lifetime best in the 1,500m, Lee finished out of the medals.
1.5Written at the end of a letter to wish a person well: See you soon, best, Michael...
- My gut reaction was to write Sincerely, but then I re-read an email that was sent from the recruiter to me and she signed it Best.
- If he signed it "Best, LRH" then that meant he wasn't pleased with you and you were in trouble.
- I hope you are back from the hospital and doing okay. Best, Andrea.
verb [with object] informal
Outwit or get the better of (someone): she refused to allow herself to be bested...
- But she can only give herself to a man who bests her in hand-to-hand combat.
- He takes understandable pleasure in besting his brother on the polo field and on the ski slopes.
- She met their world on its own terms, often besting the boys at their games and always laughing when she landed on her butt.
Synonyms
defeat, beat, get the better of, gain the advantage over, get the upper hand over, outdo, outwit, outsmart, worst, be more than a match for, prevail over, conquer, vanquish, trounce, triumph over;
surpass, outclass, outshine, put someone in the shade, overshadow, eclipse
informal lick, get one over on
US informal own
Phrases
all the best
as best one can (or may)
at best
at the best of times
best of breed
the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley
be the best of friends
the best of three (or five etc.)
the best part of
best wishes
one's best years
do (or try) one's best
be for (or all for) the best
get the best of
give someone/thing best
had best do something
make the best of
make the best of a bad job
six of the best
to the best of one's ability
to the best of one's knowledge
with the best of them
Origin
Old English betest (adjective), betost, betst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German best, also to better1.