- the most excellent thing or person
- We all want the best for our children.
- They only buy the best.
- They're all good players, but she's the best of all.
- We're the best of friends (= very close friends).
- the highest standard that somebody/something can reach
- She always brings out the best in people.
- The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring.
- Don't worry about the exam—just do your best.
- The roses are past their best now.
- I don't really feel at my best today.
- something that is as close as possible to what you need or want
- Fifty pounds is the best I can offer you.
- The best we can hope for in the game is a draw.
- the highest standard that a particular person has reached, especially in a sport
- a lifetime best of 12.0 seconds
Word OriginOld English betest (adjective), betost, betst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German best, also to better.
Idioms
See best in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee best in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishall the best
- (informal) used when you are saying goodbye to somebody or ending a letter, to give somebody your good wishes
at best
- used for saying what is the best opinion you can have of somebody/something, or the best thing that can happen, when the situation is bad
- Their response to the proposal was, at best, cool.
- We can't arrive before Friday at best.
be (all) for the best
- used to say that although something appears bad or unpleasant now, it will be good in the end
- I don't want you to leave, but perhaps it's for the best.
the best of a bad bunch/lot
- (especially British English, informal) a person or thing that is a little better than the rest of a group, although none are very good
the best/pick of the bunch
- the best out of a group of people or things
the best of luck (with something) | good luck (with something)
- (informal) used to wish somebody success with something
- The best of luck with your exams.
- Good luck! I hope it goes well.
- (ironic) ‘I'm going to try giving up social media for a year.’ ‘Good luck with that (= I don't think you will succeed).’
the best of three, five, etc.
- (especially in games and sports) up to three, five, etc. games played to decide who wins, the winner being the person who wins most of them
the best that money can buy
- the very best
- We make sure our clients get the best that money can buy.
do, mean, etc. something for the best
- to do or say something in order to achieve a good result or to help somebody
- I just don't know what to do for the best.
- I'm sorry if my advice offended you—I meant it for the best.
have/get the best of something
- to gain more advantage from something than somebody else
- I thought you had the best of that discussion.
hope for the best
- to hope that something will happen successfully, especially where it seems likely that it will not
- I’m just going to answer all the questions I can and hope for the best.
make the best of something/it | make the best of things | make the best of a bad job
- to accept a bad or difficult situation and do as well as you can
your Sunday best
- (informal, humorous) your best clothes
- I put on my Sunday best for the occasion.
to the best of your knowledge/belief
- as far as you know
- He never made a will, to the best of my knowledge.
with the best (of them)
- as well as anyone
- He'll be out there, dancing with the best of them.
Check pronunciation:
best