Skip to main content
best

best

6 1.0
Of the highest quality or most suitable in a situation
  • adjective
  • /bɛst/
translation icon : mejor
  • This restaurant is known for serving the best pizza in the city.
  • best friend
  • best buddy

What about the best year, best year right now?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • In my opinion Sky guide is the best AR app.

  • If that's you, this is the best training course ever.

  • I thought it was the best book cover ever.

  • This is by far the best fit dress.

  • Can you show us your best dance move?

  • Oh, this could be the best thing that I'll ever know.

  • So what's the best use of our work here?

  • They had to kind of make the best out of what they had.

  • That's what's best for most of us on Earth.

  • It's time for who's got dibs on the best Memphis ribs.

Synonyms

excellent
vsbest
1.0

Very good and better than most similar things

is more general, also covering most suitable or advisable choices
superb
vsbest
111 3.5

Of very high quality and extremely good

is wider, including what is most suitable in context
greatest
vsbest
70 1.0

Better than all others in quality or importance

is broader, also used for what is most suitable or advisable
optimal
vsbest
62 5.7

Best or most suitable for a particular situation

is more general, also referring to the highest overall quality
optimum
vsbest
31 5.1

Most suitable for a given situation

is the general descriptor that also means highest quality overall
top-notch
vsbest
14 4.4

Very high quality and among the best

is more general, also meaning most suitable for a specific situation
top-quality
vsbest
9 3.8

Very high quality and lasts a long time

is broader, also applying to the most suitable option
superlative
vsbest
8 4.6

Of the highest quality

is the general term that also means most suitable in a situation
select
vsbest
  • Formal
8 3.7

Very good quality and better than most others

is the general term that can mean most suitable or advisable
4 3.9

A product that has very high quality and is often the most expensive option

is broader, also used for the most suitable option in context
top-grade
vsbest
3 3.7

Of the highest quality, better than others like it

is more general, and can mean the most suitable choice
bestest
vsbest
  • Baby Talk
1 8.2

To say someone or something is the very best in a playful way

is the standard word that also shows suitability or advisability
tops
vsbest
  • Informal
7.8

Very good and the best in quality

is the neutral term that also covers suitability or advisability
choice
vsbest
5.1

Very good and carefully chosen

is broader, also used when one option is most suitable

Antonyms

9 1.0

Of the lowest quality or value

Idioms

276 1.5

Among the top people or things in a group

123 3.5

Only in the best case is the result not very good

28 2.1

The most important or pleasing thing

17 3.4

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

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

To choose the most sensible action in a situation

level best
  • Informal
5 4.4

The most effort you can make

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

3 3.0

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

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

1 1.7

Feeling very happy about something

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

Only top quality is acceptable

To do something as well as you can given the situation

Compounds

940 1.0

A person you trust most and talk to about everything

152 2.4

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

104 1.9

Most people know it

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

60 2.1

A book or magazine that sells in very large numbers

35 3.7

The choice that is most likely to succeed

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

22 1.3

A choice that is most suitable among other choices

22 2.4

A strong attempt someone makes to succeed at something

12 3.7

Next in quality or rank after the 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

8 1.8

A person or team that finishes second in a competition

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

7 4.1

Clothes you wear for church or special events

5 2.0

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

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

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

9.9

A strong old-fashioned way to say the best day

How Good

best
6 1.0
excellent
1.0
good
1.0
adequate
234 2.7
poor
838 1.0

Surface Forms

best positive
best superlative
better comparative

Morphology

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

Semantically the superlative of 'good' and functionally corresponds to adding a superlative suffix, but the form is irregular/suppletive and not predictable from the form of 'good'.

Etymology

Best comes from an old English word meaning 'most good' and is the top form of better. That's why best describes the highest quality or the most suitable choice.