best Definition

best
adj

1. Most excellent, suitable or desirable.

Thesaurus: finest, prime, supreme, optimum, paramount, nonpareil, inimitable, peerless, transcendent; Antonym: worst, poorest.
2. Most successful, clever, able or skilled, etc.
3. The greatest or most.

Example: took the best part of an hour

adverb

1. Most successfully or skilfully, etc

Example: Who did best in the test?
2. More than, or better than, all others

Example: I like her best
Example: Which hat looks best?

noun

1. The most excellent or suitable person or thing; the most desirable quality or result, etc.

Example: the best of the bunch
Thesaurus: finest, flower, cream, crème de la crème, elite, top.
Form: the best
2. The greatest effort; one's utmost.

Example: Do your best
3. A person's finest clothes.

Example: Sunday best
4. Victory or success.

Example: get the best of an argument
Form: the best
5. A winning majority from (a given number, etc).

Example: the best of three
Form: the best of something (usually)

verb

bested, besting
1. colloq
To beat or defeat someone.
Thesaurus: defeat, beat, overcome, get the better of, worst, conquer, thrash, trounce, vanquish.

Idiom: all the best!

colloq
Said in parting, closing a telephone conversation, etc: best wishes; good luck; wishing you success, happiness, etc.

Idiom: as best one can

As well as one can.

Idiom: at best

Considered in the most favourable way; in the best of circumstances.

Idiom: at the best of times

Even in the most favourable circumstances.

Idiom: the best bet (your best bet, our etc best bet)

colloq
The (or your, our, etc) most appropriate course of action.

Idiom: best wishes

Often written in greetings cards, etc: wishing you happiness, health, prosperity, success, etc.

Idiom: for the best

Likely or intended to have the best results possible, especially in the long term or over all.

Idiom: had best do something

Would find it wisest to do it.
Example: You had best find out straight away

Idiom: make the best of something

To do, etc as well as possible in unfavourable circumstances.
Example: It isn't what I wanted, but I'll just have to make the best of it

Idiom: put one's best foot forward

To make the best attempt possible.

Idiom: to the best of one's knowledge (to the best of one's belief, to the best of one's ability)

As far as one knows, or believes, or is able.

Idiom: with the best of them

As successfully or as well as anyone.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon betst; 19c as verb

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good
adj better, best

1a. Having desirable or necessary (positive) qualities; admirable;

Thesaurus: proper, suitable, becoming, desirable, favourable, positive, advantageous, fit, appropriate, seemly, satisfactory, qualified, suited, competent, able, adequate, capable, efficient, sufficient.
1b. patronizing
Used when addressing or referring to someone.
Example: my good man
Example: your good lady
2a. Morally correct; virtuous;

Thesaurus: moral, upright, virtuous, honourable, righteous, ethical, honest, humane, noble; Antonym: evil, wicked.
2b. Virtuous people in general (see the 4).

Form: the good
3. Kind and generous.

Thesaurus: kind, considerate, tolerant, benign, generous, amiable, congenial, friendly, polite; Antonym: mean, unkind.
4. Bringing happiness or pleasure.

Example: good news
5. Well-behaved.
6. Wise; advisable.

Example: a good buy
7. Thorough.
8. Finest compared with others.

Example: my good china
9. Adequate; satisfactory.

Example: a good supply
10. Enjoyable.

Example: having a good time
11. Valid.
12. Well-respected.
13. Sound; giving use; serviceable.

Example: The roof is good for another winter
14. Financially sound.

Example: a good investment
15. Considerable; at least.

Example: waited a good while
Example: lasted a good month
16. Certain to provide the desired result.

Example: good for a laugh
17. Used to introduce exclamations expressing surprise, dismay, or exasperation.

Example: good heavens
Example: good grief
Example: good golly

noun

1. Moral correctness; virtue.

Thesaurus: goodness, virtue, ethic, ideal, morality, righteousness, uprightness, rectitude, rightness, merit.
2. Benefit; advantage.

Example: do you good
Example: £20 to the good
Example: It turned out all to the good
Thesaurus: benefit, welfare, advantage, gain, asset, boon, profit.

exclamation

1. Expressing approval or satisfaction.

adverb

1. colloq
Very well.
Example: The boy Linneker done good

Idiom: as good as ...

Almost ... ; virtually ....

Idiom: as good as gold (good as gold)

Said especially of children: extremely well-behaved.

Idiom: be as good as one's word

To carry out one's promises.

Idiom: for good (for good and all)

For ever; permanently.
Thesaurus: permanently, forever, for all time, irrevocably, henceforth, finally, irreversibly, irreparably, once and for all.

Idiom: good and ...

colloq
Very ... ; completely or absolutely ....
Example: good and ready

Idiom: good at something

Competent at it; talented in that area.

Idiom: good for someone or something

Beneficial to them or it.

Idiom: good for you! etc (good on you! etc)

An expression of approval or congratulation.

An expression of snide resentment.

Idiom: good morning (good afternoon, good evening)

traditional expressions used when either meeting or parting from someone at the specified time of day.

Idiom: good night

A traditional expression used when parting from someone at night or well on in the day.

Idiom: in someone's good books

In favour with someone.

Idiom: make good

To be successful.
Thesaurus: succeed, prove oneself, accomplish, achieve, arrive.

Idiom: make something good

To repair it.

To carry it out or fulfil it.

Idiom: no good

Useless.

Worthless.

Idiom: to the good

On the credit side.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon god.

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well¹
adverb better, best

1. Competently; skilfully.
2. Satisfactorily.
3. Kindly or favourably.

Thesaurus: favourably, glowingly.
4. Thoroughly, properly or carefully.
5. Fully or adequately.
6. Intimately.

Example: don't know her well
7. Successfully; prosperously.

Thesaurus: splendidly, admirably, favourably, comfortably, nicely; Antonym: badly, poorly.
8. Approvingly.
9. Attractively.
10. By a long way.

Example: well past midnight
11. Justifiably.

Example: can't very well ignore him
12. Conceivably; quite possibly.

Example: may well be right
13. Understandably.

Example: if she objects, as well she may
14. Very much.

Example: well worth doing
15. usually colloq
Used in combination for emphasis
Example: I'm jolly well going to
Example: I was well pleased!

adj better, best

1. Healthy.

Thesaurus: healthy, fit, fine, flourishing, robust, strong, in good health, thriving, sound; Antonym: ill.
2. In a satisfactory state.

Thesaurus: pleasant, favourable, satisfactory, agreeable, fortunate.
3. Sensible; advisable.

Example: would be well to check

exclamation

1. Used enquiringly in expectation of a response or explanation, etc.
2. Used variously in conversation, eg to resume a narrative, preface a reply, express surprise, indignation or doubt, etc.

Idiom: all very well

colloq
Said as an objecting response to a consoling remark: satisfactory or acceptable but only up to a point.
Example: It's all very well to criticize

Idiom: as well

Too; in addition.
Thesaurus: also, in addition, additionally, to boot.

Note: also with just
For all the difference it makes.
Example: I may as well tell you

Note: also with just
A good thing; lucky.
Example: It was just as well you came when you did

Idiom: as well as ...

In addition to ...
Thesaurus: including, together with, along with, plus, in addition to.

Idiom: be as well to do something

To be sensible to do it.

Idiom: do well out of something

To profit from it.

Idiom: leave well alone (let well alone)

Not to interfere in things that are satisfactory as they are.

Idiom: mean well

To have helpful or kindly intentions.

Idiom: very well

An expression of acceptance in complying with an order or accepting a point, etc.

Idiom: well and good

Used to show acceptance of facts or a situation.

Idiom: well and truly

Thoroughly; completely.

Idiom: well away

Making rapid progress; far away.

colloq
Drunk or asleep, etc.

Idiom: well done!

An expression used to congratulate someone on an achievement, etc.

Idiom: well enough

Satisfactory within limits.

Idiom: well off

Wealthy; financially comfortable.
Thesaurus: affluent, wealthy, rich, prosperous, successful, moneyed, well-to-do, well-heeled (slang), loaded (slang), in the money (slang); Antonym: poor.

Fortunate; successful.

Idiom: well out of something

colloq
Fortunate to be free of it.

Idiom: well up in something

colloq
Having a thorough knowledge of it.

Idiom: well, well

Expressing surprise.

Idiom: well worth something

Definitely worth it.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon wel.