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Best Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
Britannica Dictionary definition of BEST
1
a
:
better than all others in quality or value
-
You should wear your best clothes tonight.
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He took us to the (very) best restaurants in the city.
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We ate the best food and drank the best wines.
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You’re our best customers.
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His modesty and sense of humor are his best qualities.
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Is that your best offer?
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I’ve had the best time with you! [=I’ve had a very enjoyable time with you]
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The best [=most valuable] things in life are free.
-
Which of these do you think tastes best?
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Mary sends you her very best wishes/regards.
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He’s my best friend. [=my closest/dearest friend] = He and I are best friends.
b
:
most skillful, talented, or successful
2
:
most appropriate, useful, or helpful
-
She truly believes that this is the best way to solve the problem.
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She’s the team’s best hope/chance for a medal.
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She thought waiting was best. = She thought that the best thing to do was to wait. = She thought that it was best to wait.
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It’s best to leave early if you want to be sure of arriving on time.
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We want to do what’s best for you.
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He’s the best man for the job.
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You should do whatever you think is the best thing to do. = You should do whatever you think best.
-
We’re making the best possible use of these materials.
best of all
◊ The phrase best of all is often used to refer to the most important or appealing part of something that has many good parts.
-
The machine is easy to use, easy to clean, and best of all, it’s absolutely free when you order these books.
next best
◊ A person or thing that is next best is not as good as the best person or thing but is better than all others.
-
The shortstop is the best player on the team, and the catcher is the next best player.
-
We can’t see each other often, but calling each other on the telephone is the next best thing.
on your best behavior
◊ If you are on your best behavior you are behaving very politely and well.
2
best
/ˈbɛst/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of BEST
superlative form of
1
:
in the best way
:
in a way that is better than all others
:
with the most success or benefit
-
They work best under pressure.
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That’s what we do best!
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We need to think about how best to fix this problem.
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This is a job best left to the professionals. [=it’s better/best to allow professional workers to do this job]
-
Some things are best left unsaid. [=it’s better/best not to talk about some things]
2
:
to the greatest degree or extent
:
-
That’s the one we liked (the) best.
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The work should be done by the people who are best able to do it.
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She’s best suited to life in the city.
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He is best known for his invention of the light bulb.
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The museum features some of the best-known examples of this style of painting.
-
the industry’s best-kept secret
as best you can
or
the best (that) you can
:
as well, skillfully, or accurately as you can
had best
◊ If you had best do something, you should do it.
-
You’d best get ready for school. [=you’d better get ready for school; you should get ready for school]
-
Hadn’t you best get ready for school?
3
best
/ˈbɛst/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of BEST
[singular]
1
the best
:
the best person or thing
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Out of all of my workers, he’s the best.
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Our company is the best in the business.
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Thanks, Dad. You’re the best!
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I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last.
:
the best group of people or things
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Our store sells nothing but the best. = We sell only the best. [=the best products]
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She’s one of the best in the world. = She’s among the best.
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Bad things happen to the best of us.
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They want the best for their children.
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Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills.
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In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water.
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He can compete with the best of them. [=he can compete as well as anyone]
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We were the best of friends. [=we were very good friends]
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I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds.
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Problems can occur even in/under the best of circumstances. [=even if the situation is as good as possible]
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All of the students are good, but these three are the best of the bunch. [=the best ones in the group]
—
see also sunday best
2
:
someone’s or something’s most effective, capable, or successful condition
— used in phrases like at your best and at its best
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He’s at his best in front of a live audience.
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She’s at her best in the morning.
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This is democracy at its best.
3
:
the highest level that you can do or achieve
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Was that your best? = Was that the best you could do?
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No one expects you to do the job perfectly. Just do your best. = Just do the best you can. [=do as well as you can]
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He did his best to help them.
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Her time in the race was a personal best. [=it was the fastest time she had ever achieved]
(all) for the best
:
having or producing a better result
— used to say that something will have a good result even though it was not the intended result
(all) the best
◊ If you wish someone (all) the best, you hope that person will be happy and successful.
at best
— used to refer to a result, condition, etc., that is the best one possible even though it is not very good
-
The company won’t make a profit this year. At best, they’ll break even.
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The work won’t be finished for another three months at best.
best (out) of three (five, seven, etc.)
— used to say that the winner of a series of games will be the one who has won the most times after three (five, seven, etc.) games have been played
bring out the best in
◊ If someone or something brings out the best in you, that person or thing helps you to use or show your best qualities.
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She seems to bring out the best in him.
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Performing in front of an audience brings out the best in me. [=I perform better when I am in front of an audience]
get the best of
◊ If an emotion or feeling gets the best of you, it causes you to do something that you should not do or that you are trying not to do.
look your best
:
to look very good
:
to look as attractive and pleasant as possible
make the best of
1
:
to use (something) in an effective way
2
:
to deal with (a bad situation) as well as possible
-
Life is not very good right now—but let’s try to make the best of it.
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We’re trying to make the best (out) of a bad situation. = (Brit) We’re trying to make the best of a bad job.
the best is yet to come/be
— used to say that good things have happened but that even better things will happen in the future
to the best of your ability
:
as well as you are able to
4
best
/ˈbɛst/
verb
bests;
bested;
besting
bests;
bested;
besting
Britannica Dictionary definition of BEST
[+ object]
:
to do better than (someone or something)
:
to defeat or outdo (someone or something)
