best

Universal Words adjective, adverb, noun, verb adjective (superlative of good) 1 of the most excellent type or quality: That's the best movie I've ever seen! * He wrote his best songs before he was 25. * She was one of the best tennis players of her generation. * Is that your best suit? * They've been best friends (= closest friends) since they were children. * the company's best-ever results * We want the kids to have the best possible education. * The best-before date on the lemonade is 10 May (= it should be used by May 10 as it will not be of such good quality after that). 2 most enjoyable; happiest: Those were the best years of my life. 3 most suitable or appropriate: What's the best way to cook steak? * The best thing to do would be to apologize. * He's the best man for the job. * It's best if you go now. * I'm not in the best position to advise you. IDIOMS Idioms containing bestadjective are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example on your best behaviour is at behaviour. adverb (superlative of well, often used in adjectives) 1 most; to the greatest extent: Which one do you like best? * Well-drained soil suits the plant best. * her best-known poem 2 in the most excellent way; to the highest standard: He works best in the mornings. * Britain's best-dressed woman * The beaches are beautiful, but, best of all, there are very few tourists. 3 in the most suitable or appropriate way: Painting is best done in daylight. * Do as you think best (= what you think is the most suitable thing to do). IDIOMS as best you can not perfectly but as well as you are able: We'll manage as best we can. noun [sing.] (usually the best) 1 the most excellent thing or person: We all want the best for our children. * They only buy the best. * They're all good players, but she's the best of all. * We're the best of friends (= very close friends). 2 the highest standard that sb/sth can reach: She always brings out the best in people. * The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring. * Don't worry about the exam-just do your best. * The roses are past their best now. * I don't really feel at my best today. 3 something that is as close as possible to what you need or want: Fifty pounds is the best I can offer you. * The best we can hope for in the game is a draw. 4 the highest standard that a particular person has reached, especially in a sport: She won the race with a personal best of 2 minutes 22. IDIOMS all the best (informal) used when you are saying goodbye to sb or ending a letter, to give sb your good wishes at best used for saying what is the best opinion you can have of sb/sth, or the best thing that can happen, when the situation is bad: Their response to the proposal was, at best, cool. * We can't arrive before Friday at best. be (all) for the best used to say that although sth appears bad or unpleasant now, it will be good in the end: I don't want you to leave, but perhaps it's for the best. the best of three, five, etc. (especially in games and sports) up to three, five, etc. games played to decide who wins, the winner being the person who wins most of them do, mean, etc. sth for the best to do or say sth in order to achieve a good result or to help sb: I just don't know what to do for the best. * I'm sorry if my advice offended you-I meant it for the best. have / get the best of sth to gain more advantage from sth than sb else: I thought you had the best of that discussion. make the best of sth / it