# best

Pronunciation: say "BEST" /ˈbɛst/

## Adjective

1. Of the highest quality or most suitable; better than all others (the superlative of good).
   - Simple: Better than all the others, or the most suitable.
   - _We chose the best route to avoid the morning traffic._
   - _Early light gives photographers the best conditions for landscapes._
9. The greatest in amount or extent; nearly the whole of a quantity.
   - Simple: Almost all of something, or the greatest part of it.
   - _The repairs took the best part of a week to complete._
   - _He read the best part of the report before the meeting began._

## Adverb

2. Superlative of well. — superlative form of well: most well
   - Simple: In the most skillful or suitable way, or more than any other, as in 'she knows him best.' Superlative of well.
   - _The friends who knew him best were not surprised by his decision to move abroad._
   - _Of all her old teachers, she remembers Mr. Hale best._

## Noun

3. The person, persons, thing, or things that are most excellent of their kind.
   - Simple: The person or thing that is better than all the others.
   - _If you want bagels, this place makes the best in town._
   - _Among all the competitors, she emerged as the best._
4. The greatest effort a person can make or has made toward something.
   - Simple: The most effort someone can give to a task.
   - _He gave his best in every single match this season._
   - _They promised to do their best for every customer who called._
5. Friendly regards or good wishes, typically offered when signing off a letter or message or conveyed via a third party.
   - Simple: Kind, friendly wishes, often at the end of a letter or message or passed on by another person.
   - _Tell your father I send my best and hope his recovery goes smoothly._
   - _Thanks again for your help with the move. Best, Daniel_
7. The finest clothes a person owns, kept for special occasions, often in the phrase Sunday best.
   - Simple: The nicest clothes a person has, kept for special days, often in Sunday best.
   - _Half the town turned out in its best for the mayor's parade._
   - _He hadn't worn his Sunday best since his brother's funeral, and the jacket was tight._

## Verb

6. Ought to; used as a reduced form of 'had best' to give firm advice or a warning. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Used to tell someone they really should do something.
   - _You best not tell anyone what you saw tonight._
   - _They best be ready when the early bus arrives._
8. To defeat or outdo someone in a contest, skill, or achievement.
   - Simple: To beat someone or do better than them.
   - _A skilled amateur can best a tired professional on the right day._
   - _Our team bested the defending champions last night._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–5, 7–9** — From Middle English beste, from Old English betst (also betest), from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. It is related to Dutch best, German beste, and Swedish bäst, among others.
**Meaning 6** — A shortening of the phrase "had best."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/best (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).