BEST definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

He was best known as a writer on mystical subjects.

Best is the superlative of good.

What's the best thing to do when I get a cold sore?

It's not the best place to live if you wish to develop your knowledge and love of mountains.

We offer only the best to our clients.

He'll have the best of care.

Someone's best is the greatest effort or highest achievement or standard that they are capable of.

Miss Blockey was at her best when she played the piano.

One needs to be a first-class driver to get the best out of that sort of machinery.

A draw seems the best they can hope for.

The best we can do is try to stay cool and muddle through.

Synonyms: most sensible thing, wisest thing, most desirable thing, most advisable thing More Synonyms of best

If you like something best or like it the best, you prefer it.

The thing I liked best about the show was the music.

Mother liked it best when Daniel got money.

What was the role you loved the best?

Best is used to form the superlative of compound adjectives beginning with ' good' and ' well'. For example, the superlative of ' well-known' is 'best-known'.

See all the best

See best of all

See as best one can

See at best

See to do one's best

See for the best

See the best of friends

See had best

See to know best

See to look one's best

See to make the best of sth

2.

3.

4. See the best part of

5. See put one's best foot forward

7.

in a manner surpassing all others; most excellently, advantageously, attractively, etc

8.(in combination)

the best-loved hero

9. See as best one can

10. See had best

11. See the best

12.(often preceded by at)

journalism at its best

13.

even their best was inadequate

14.

the best of three games

15. Also: all the best

she sent him her best

16.

17. See at best

18. See for the best

19. See get the best of

20. See give someone the best

21. See make the best of

22. See six of the best

23.(transitive)

1.

2.

1. superl. of

2.

of the most excellent sort; surpassing all others

3.

most suitable, most desirable, most favorable, most profitable, etc.

4.

it took the best part of an hour

5. superl. of

6.

in the most excellent manner; in the most suitable way

7.

in the highest degree; to the greatest extent; most

8.

among the best in his profession

9.

the thing, condition, circumstance, action, etc. that is most excellent, most suitable, etc.

10.

the most one can do; utmost

to do one's best

11.

advantage

to get the best of an opponent

12.

13.

1.

the best work

the best students

2.

most advantageous, suitable, or desirable

the best way

3.

largest; most

the best part of a day

4.

most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success

an opera role that best suits her voice

5.(usually used in combination)

in or to the highest degree; most fully

best-suited

best-known

best-loved

6. See as best one can

7. See had best

8.

something or someone that is best

They always demand and get the best

The best of us can make mistakes

9.

a person's finest clothing

It's important that you wear your best

10.(often prec. by at)

11.(often prec. by at)

12.(often prec. by at)

the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things

cabinetmaking at its best

13.

the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make

Their best fell far short of excellence

14.

a person's best wishes or kindest regards

Please give my best to your father

15. See all for the best

16. See at best

17. See get the best of

18. See make the best of

19. See with the best

20.

He easily bested his opponent in the duel

She bested me in the argument