best
BEHST
Best (adj) means of the highest quality, or most suitable; superlative of "good.". Example: “This is the best pizza I've ever eaten.”
adj
1
Of the highest quality, or most suitable; superlative of "good."
"This is the best pizza I've ever eaten."
"She's the best candidate for the job by far."
"Her best friend lives just down the road from us."
noun
1
The greatest possible effort someone can make.
"He gave it his best in the final round."
"I did my best, but the hill was too steep to finish."
"The children tried their best to keep quiet during the ceremony."
verb
1
To defeat or outdo someone.
"She bested three former champions to win the title."
"The small team bested the favourites in a tense final match."
"Our local chess club bested a much larger rival last night."
How to use best
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe highest-quality or most favourable option, or to beat someone in a contest.
Common pairings
do your best
best of luck
best in class
best someone at something
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Word forms
- Plural
- bests
- Third person singular
- bests
- Past tense
- bested
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This is the _____ pizza I've ever eaten.
Etymology
From Old English betst/bezt, the superlative form of "good," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root shared with "better."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for best
See all rhymes for best →Frequently asked questions
What does “best” mean?
The word “best” means of the highest quality, or most suitable; superlative of "good.". In plain terms, the highest-quality or most favourable option, or to beat someone in a contest.
How do you pronounce “best”?
“Best” is pronounced BEHST (/ˈbɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “best” in a sentence?
Here is “best” used in a sentence: “This is the best pizza I've ever eaten.”
What is another word for “best”?
Words with a similar meaning to “best” include all that and a bag of chips, antelope's cantaloupes, ant's pants, bee's knees, cat's ass and cat's meow.
What is the opposite of “best”?
The opposite of “best” — its antonyms — is worst.
What part of speech is “best”?
Depending on how it is used, “best” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “best” come from?
The word “best” comes from Old English. From Old English betst/bezt, the superlative form of "good," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root shared with "better.".
Is “best” a common word?
“Best” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between best and better?
'Better' is the comparative form, used when comparing two things or noting improvement, as in 'this one is better than that.' 'Best' is the superlative, used when something surpasses all others in a group, as in 'the best of the three.' Use 'better' for two, and 'best' for three or more.
Is 'best' the superlative of 'good'?
Yes. 'Good' is irregular, so it does not add -er and -est. Instead the sequence is good, better, best. 'Better' compares two items, and 'best' marks the top of three or more, as in 'a good film, a better film, the best film of the year.' 'Best' also serves as the superlative of 'well.'
What is the opposite of best?
The opposite is 'worst,' the superlative of 'bad,' meaning of the lowest quality or least suitable. Just as 'best' tops a group, 'worst' sits at the bottom, as in 'the best and worst moments of the year.' The comparative pair is 'better' and 'worse.'
What is an example of 'best' in a sentence?
'She is the best player on the team' ranks her above all the others. 'This is the best time to visit' means the most suitable. 'He did his best' means the finest effort he could manage. In each, 'best' marks the highest point of quality or suitability.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing best in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
It was the best reentry yet, according to SpaceX, with the intact booster floating amid just a few flames.
From
Fortune · Jul 25, 2026
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