worst

Universal Words adjective, adverb, noun, verb adjective (superlative of bad) of the poorest quality or lowest standard; worse than any other person or thing of a similar kind: It was by far the worst speech he had ever made. * What's the worst thing that could happen? * What she said confirmed my worst fears (= proved they were right). IDIOMS be your own worst enemy to be the cause of your own problems: Her indecisiveness makes her her own worst enemy. come off worst to lose a fight, competition, etc. or suffer more compared with others adverb (superlative of badly) most badly or seriously: He was voted the worst dressed celebrity. * Manufacturing industry was worst affected by the fuel shortage. * Worst of all, I lost the watch my father had given me. noun (the worst) [sing.] the most serious or unpleasant thing that could happen; the part, situation, possibility, etc. that is worse than any other: The worst of the storm was over. * When they did not hear from her, they feared the worst. * The worst of it is that I can't even be sure if they received my letter. * He was always optimistic, even when things were at their worst. IDIOMS at (the) worst used for saying what is the worst thing that can happen: At the very worst, he'll have to pay a fine. * At worst this may mean the end of her playing career. bring out the worst in sb to make sb show their worst qualities: Pressure can bring out the worst in people. do your worst (of a person) to do as much damage or be as unpleasant as possible: Let them do their worst-we'll fight them every inch of the way. get the worst of it to be defeated: He'd been in a fight and had obviously got the worst of it. if the worst comes to the worst (AmE also if worst comes to worst) if the situation becomes too difficult or dangerous: If the worst comes to the worst, we'll just have to sell the house. the worst of all (possible) worlds all the disadvantages of every situation verb [VN] (old-fashioned or formal) [usuallypassive] to defeat sb in a fight, a contest or an argument