Standard Lemma guide

best

adj · adv · name · noun · verb · 21 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɛst/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /ˈbest/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛst
  • /bɛst/
  • CMU ARPABET: B EH1 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

superlative form of good: most good.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, superlative

Examples

  • I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Most; largest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Unpacking took the best part of a week.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Most superior; most favorable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • In my opinion, mushrooms are the best pizza toppings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

superlative form of well: most well

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, superlative

Examples

  • A popular aphorism says it best: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You'd best save a backup copy, just in case the morons lose the one that you sent and then try to act like you never sent one.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

name

Meaning 6

A surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

name

Meaning 7

A village and municipality in North Brabant province, Netherlands.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

The supreme effort one can make, or has made.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: often, uncountable

Examples

  • I did my best.
  • My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

One's best behavior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: often, uncountable

Examples

  • I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I’m nice to her, so I better be on my best.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, often

Examples

  • Even the best of us makes mistakes, but only a few with the best of intentions...
  • We're (the) best of friends, who fortunately enjoy the best of health.
  • I love it so much! It's the best.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To surpass in skill or achievement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To beat in a contest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

Had best.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial, modal

Examples

  • It's getting late. You best get on home.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

adjective

Meaning 14

(superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the best film of the year
  • the best solution
  • the best time for planting
  • wore his best suit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: worst

15

adverb

Meaning 15

it would be sensible

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • you'd best stay at home

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

adverb

Meaning 16

in a most excellent way or manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he played best after a couple of martinis

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

adverb

Meaning 17

from a position of superiority or authority

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • father knows best
  • I know better.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: better

Antonyms: none provided

18

noun

Meaning 18

the supreme effort one can make

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they did their best

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: worst

Broader terms: attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try

19

noun

Meaning 19

the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he could beat the best of them

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: topper

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

20

noun

Meaning 20

Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: C. H. Best, Charles Herbert Best

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: physiologist

21

verb

Meaning 21

get the better of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the goal was to best the competition

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: outdo, outflank, trump, scoop

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

Narrower terms: outmaneuver, outmanoeuvre, outsmart

History

Etymology

From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).

From German Beste (“a river in Germany”) or from Anglo-Norman beste (“beast”).

Shortening of had best

Across languages

Translations

125 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: أَفْضَل (ʔafḍal) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Czech: nejlepší — superlative of the adjective good
  • French: meilleur — superlative of the adjective good
  • French: meilleure — superlative of the adjective good
  • German: Beste — superlative of the adjective good
  • Greek: καλύτερος (kalýteros) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Ancient Greek: ἄριστος (áristos) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Hebrew: מֵיטָב (meytáv) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Hindi: श्रेष्ठ (śreṣṭh) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Hungarian: legjobb — superlative of the adjective good
  • Icelandic: best — superlative of the adjective good
  • Italian: migliore — superlative of the adjective good
  • Japanese: 一番 (ichiban) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Korean: 최선 (choeseon) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Northern Kurdish: baştirîn — superlative of the adjective good
  • Latin: optimus — superlative of the adjective good
  • Malay: terbaik — superlative of the adjective good
  • Māori: pai rawa atu — superlative of the adjective good
  • Middle English: best — superlative of the adjective good
  • Persian: خوبترین (xubtarin) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Persian: بهترین (behtarin) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Polish: najlepszy — superlative of the adjective good
  • Portuguese: melhor — superlative of the adjective good
  • Russian: лу́чший (lúčšij) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Russian: наилу́чший (nailúčšij) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Samoan: sili — superlative of the adjective good
  • Sanskrit: श्रेष्ठ (śreṣṭha) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Sanskrit: वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Spanish: mejor — superlative of the adjective good
  • Tamil: சிறந்த (ciṟanta) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Tamil: மிகச்சிறந்த (mikacciṟanta) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Thai: ดีที่สุด (tiisiisut) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Ukrainian: найкращий (najkraščyj) — superlative of the adjective good
  • Ukrainian: найлі́пший (najlípšyj) — superlative of the adjective good
  • French: mieux — superlative of the adverb well
  • German: am besten — superlative of the adverb well
  • Hungarian: legjobban — superlative of the adverb well
  • Italian: meglio — superlative of the adverb well
  • Japanese: 最もうまく (motto mo umaku) — superlative of the adverb well
  • Korean: 가장 잘 (gajang jal) — superlative of the adverb well
  • Latin: optime — superlative of the adverb well
  • Middle English: best — superlative of the adverb well
  • Polish: najlepiej — superlative of the adverb well
  • Portuguese: melhor — superlative of the adverb well
  • Sardinian: méglius — superlative of the adverb well
  • Spanish: mejor — superlative of the adverb well
  • Swedish: bäst — superlative of the adverb well
  • Tagalog: pinakamahusay — superlative of the adverb well
  • Tagalog: pinakamagaling — superlative of the adverb well
  • Finnish: paras — effort
  • Finnish: parhain — effort
  • French: mieux — effort
  • German: Bestes — effort
  • Hungarian: minden tőle telhetőt megtesz — effort
  • Hungarian: kitesz magáért — effort
  • Irish: dícheall — effort
  • Japanese: ベスト (besuto) — effort
  • Korean: 베스트 (beseuteu) — effort
  • Northern Kurdish: baştirîn — effort
  • Norwegian: beste — effort
  • Russian: всё возмо́жное (vsjo vozmóžnoje) — effort
  • Russian: лу́чший (lúčšij) — effort
  • Slovak: vrchol — effort
  • Slovak: maximum — effort
  • Swedish: bästa — effort
  • Turkish: en iyisi — effort
  • Finnish: paras — person
  • Finnish: parhain — person
  • Finnish: parhaimmisto — person
  • French: élite — person
  • French: fleur — person
  • French: crème — person
  • French: dessus du panier — person
  • French: meilleur — person
  • Friulian: miôr — person
  • Galician: elite — person
  • German: Bester — person
  • German: Beste — person
  • Italian: migliore — person
  • Norwegian: best — person
  • Portuguese: melhor — person
  • Russian: лу́чший (lúčšij) — person
  • Spanish: élite — person
  • Spanish: flor — person
  • Spanish: nata — person
  • Swedish: bästa — person
  • Swedish: bäste — person
  • Turkish: en iyisi — person
  • Bulgarian: вземам връх над (vzemam vrǎh nad) — to beat
  • Czech: porazit — to beat
  • Dutch: slaan — to beat
  • Dutch: overmeesteren — to beat
  • Dutch: verslaan — to beat
  • Dutch: overwinnen — to beat
  • Finnish: päihittää — to beat
  • French: battre — to beat
  • French: vaincre — to beat
  • French: surpasser — to beat
  • French: enfoncer — to beat
  • French: écraser — to beat
  • French: aplatir — to beat
  • French: dominer — to beat
  • French: défaire — to beat
  • German: übertreffen — to beat
  • German: besiegen — to beat
  • German: schlagen — to beat
  • German: überlegen sein — to beat
  • Italian: superare — to beat
  • Italian: dominare — to beat
  • Italian: vincere — to beat
  • Italian: battere — to beat
  • Māori: tārū — to beat
  • Norwegian: slå — to beat
  • Russian: превзойти́ (prevzojtí) — to beat
  • Russian: победи́ть (pobedítʹ) — to beat
  • Slovak: poraziť — to beat
  • Spanish: sobrepasar — to beat
  • Spanish: superar — to beat
  • Spanish: vencer — to beat
  • Spanish: rebasar — to beat
  • Spanish: derrotar — to beat
  • Spanish: aventajar — to beat
  • Swedish: besegra — to beat
  • Turkish: aşmak — to beat
  • Turkish: geçmek — to beat