🥇 To defeat ✨ Highest quality 💪 Greatest effort 🏆 Top person 🚀 Most excellently 💡 Most advisable

best

1 1.0

The greatest effort a person can make

noun
/bɛst/

: lo mejor

Maybe I just try my best to stay neutral.
personal best

I define our best by what we did.

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Examples

So we did our best, but it was not good.
If not, she did her best, and that's what counts.
If you do your best, you know what, be proud.

The Knowledge Project Podcast
But I know you want the best for me.
And we hope you have the best year ever.
Did I not bring my best self to this thing?
So OK, what has been your best investment and why?
I'm just going in to do my best, my darndest.

The Try Guys
He put forth his best effort in the competition, which impressed the judges.
You should always strive to achieve your best in every task you undertake.

Synonyms

best shot

vsbest

Informal

72 3.2

A try using all your effort

is about overall highest capability or ongoing performance rather than one attempt

best effort

vsbest

22 2.4

A strong attempt someone makes to succeed at something

covers peak performance as well as effort rather than effort alone

damnedest

vsbest

NSFW

7 9.1

A very strong effort that someone makes to do something

is about overall highest capability or performance rather than effort in one situation

level best

vsbest

Informal

5 4.4

The most effort you can make

also includes peak performance not only the amount of effort given

best of the bunch

vsbest

Informal

3 3.0

The person or thing that is better than all others in a group

refers to the highest personal capability or peak performance rather than group ranking

Antonyms

worst

1.2

To the greatest degree in a bad way

Idioms

one of the best

276 1.5

Among the top people or things in a group

at best

123 3.5

Only in the best case is the result not very good

best of all

28 2.1

The most important or pleasing thing

best of both worlds

Informal

17 3.4

A situation where you enjoy two different good things at the same time

to try our best

14 2.1

To make as much effort as you can to reach a goal

the best policy

9 3.1

To choose the most sensible action in a situation

level best

Informal

5 4.4

The most effort you can make

to put one's best foot forward

4 6.2

Make a very good impression when you meet someone or start something new

best of the bunch

Informal

3 3.0

The person or thing that is better than all others in a group

at the best of times

2 6.2

Even when things are at their best, something is still difficult or unpleasant

best pleased

1 1.7

Feeling very happy about something

best deal in town

1 1.9

An offer with the lowest price or best value in the area

nothing less than the best

1 4.2

Only top quality is acceptable

as best one can

4.1

To do something as well as you can given the situation

Compounds

best friend

940 1.0

A person you trust most and talk to about everything

best man

152 2.4

A man who stands next to the groom and helps him at the wedding

best-known

104 1.9

Most people know it

best-selling

84 2.7

Very popular and bought by many people, like books or albums

best shot

Informal

72 3.2

A try using all your effort

best seller

60 2.1

A book or magazine that sells in very large numbers

best bet

35 3.7

The choice that is most likely to succeed

best wishes

34 1.0

A warm message wishing someone happiness and success

best practice

Specialized

26 3.1

A proven way of doing something that gives the best results

best option

22 1.3

A choice that is most suitable among other choices

best effort

22 2.4

A strong attempt someone makes to succeed at something

second-best

12 3.7

Next in quality or rank after the best

personal best

11 3.5

A person's best ever result in an activity or sport

best pal

Informal

9 1.0

A person who is your closest and most trusted friend

second best

8 1.8

A person or team that finishes second in a competition

best-kept secret

8 4.5

A place or thing only a few people know about that is especially good

Sunday best

7 4.1

Clothes you wear for church or special events

best route

5 2.0

The quickest or easiest way to travel from one place to another

best-loved

4 3.4

Liked more than other things of the same kind

best-laid plan

Informal

1 5.4

A careful plan that can still fail

best evidence rule

Formal

1 9.0

A rule that requires showing the original document, photo, or recording in court to prove its content

best guy friend

Informal

3.2

A male friend you feel closest to without any romantic interest

Best Korea

Slang

9.5

A joking or sarcastic name people use for North Korea online

best lobang

Philippine

9.9

A very good chance to buy something at a low price when shopping

goldarned best day

Archaic

9.9

A strong old-fashioned way to say the best day

How Well

best

1 1.0

performance

637 2.5

Surface Forms

best singular

bests plural

Morphology

best = good (semi-transparent) = good + est

The meaning as a superlative ('the most') is clear from 'good' → 'best', but the form is suppletive/irregular (not formed by adding '-est' to 'good'), so learners cannot fully predict the form.

Etymology

Best comes from an old English word meaning 'most good' and is the highest form of better, like 'good' -> 'better' -> 'best'. So doing your best means giving your highest effort or the most you can.