most
Noun pluralmosts (some meanings)
Pluralmosts (some meanings)
- 1Used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs that do not take -est.
It was the most beautiful garden in the town.
He spoke most clearly of all the speakers.
UsageUse the most or -est, not both: the most beautiful, the easiest (not
incorrect: the most easiest).Oppositeleast
- 2Superlative of many: the majority of, more than half of, with no article ('winning was not important for most participants').
Most shops close at six.
Most students at our school walk or ride a bike to class.
UsageMost people for people in general, but most of the people for a particular group (not
incorrect: most of people). - 3More than half of a group's members, especially when referring to people.
When the factory closed, most moved away to find work in other towns.
The new rule pleased most, though not all.
Oppositefew
- 4Superlative of much, the greatest amount of something, or the larger part of it ('who could collect the most money', 'most traffic comes this way').
She has the most patience of anyone I know.
Most traffic comes through the north gate.
UsageUse with uncountable nouns. For a specific share, use most of the: most of the money (not
incorrect: most of money). - 5Adverb, superlative of much: to the greatest extent ('economists' most-used metric', 'the thing I miss most').
The film that moved me most was the last one.
She works hardest when it matters most.
UsageOften at the end of the clause: when it matters most. Before a noun, hyphenation varies: the most-used tool or the most used tool.
Note
The adverb that measures verbs rather than adjectives: what moved me most, when it matters most. Where the superlative marker builds 'most important', this one says how much something is done.
- 6To a great degree; highly or very, in formal or literary use.
It was a most enjoyable evening.
I am most grateful for your help.
Similarvery, extremely, truly, highly, exceedingly
Note
Here the superlative has lost its comparison. A most unusual specimen is very unusual, not the most unusual of all, and the indefinite article is the giveaway. Handel's librettist uses it in 1750, Melville in 1851 and Wells in 1895, and it survives in formal courtesy such as 'most grateful'.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Handel's librettist Thomas Morell used intensifying 'most' in Theodora in 1750. en.wiktionary.org
- The first-performance libretto of Theodora was published in 1750. iucat.iu.edu
- Herman Melville used intensifying 'most' in Moby-Dick, published in 1851; the example belongs to Ishmael's narration. gutenberg.org
- H. G. Wells used intensifying 'most' in The Time Machine in 1895. en.wiktionary.org
- The Time Machine's first British edition bears the publication year 1895. en.wikisource.org
- 7
Less common meanings
- 8Used with the to mean the greatest number of, compared with every other person, group, or option, whether or not that number is a majority.
With only 38 percent of the vote, her party still won the most seats.
Of the five candidates, the youngest raised money from the most donors.
UsageThe most seats means more than any rival, perhaps short of half; most seats suggests more than half.
Oppositefewest
- 9Almost, used before any, every or all.
Most everybody in town knew her.
Most all of the guests had gone home by midnight.
UsageCommon in most everybody, most every day, and most everywhere; in formal writing use almost.
Similaralmost, nearly, practically
Note
A different use altogether: almost with its first syllable worn away, though almost itself grew from all and most.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- This sense of most is a shortened form of almost. en.wiktionary.org
- Almost derives from elements meaning all and most. en.wiktionary.org
- 10A record-setting amount; a superlative claimed.
The report lists the year's firsts and mosts.
The town claims another most, the most churches per person in the state.
UsageMostly plural, listed beside firsts: firsts and mosts. In careful prose a record is safer.
Similarrecord
Note
The superlative turned into a countable thing: a most is a record, and mosts come in lists beside firsts. Writers often set it in scare quotes, a sign that it still feels like a coinage.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Most has a countable noun sense meaning a record-setting amount. en.wiktionary.org
- 11The greatest or the best; always with the and after be.
Your car is the most, man.
PATTY:They announced this year's nominees for student council. And guess who's up for vice-president? Me! Isn't that the most to say the least?
1978, Jim Jacobs, Warren CaseyNote
A slang superlative with nothing after it: the most, meaning simply the best there is. It sits after 'be' with 'the' (isn't that the most?), and a 1978 film puts it in the mouth of a student-council hopeful as period color.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- The slang expression 'the most' means the greatest or the best. en.wiktionary.org
- The expression occurs after 'be' with 'the'. en.wiktionary.org
- A student-council hopeful uses the expression in Grease. en.wiktionary.org
- The film containing this dialogue dates from 1978. en.wikipedia.org
Showing meanings only.
most is a form of much
much, adverb: Used for emphasis, or to indicate a great difference, especially before comparatives and superlatives. Full entry
- Spelling
- much → most: irregular
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of most apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origins
This word comes from Middle English most, from Old English mǣst or māst, from Proto-Germanic *maistaz. It is related to Dutch meest, German meist, and Danish and Swedish mest, all meaning "most."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Most derives from Middle English most, Old English mǣst or māst, and Proto-Germanic *maistaz. en.wiktionary.org
- Dutch meest, German meist, and Danish and Swedish mest are cognates meaning most. en.wiktionary.org
This is a reduction of the word "almost."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Most in the sense ‘almost’ is a reduction of almost. en.wiktionary.org