best

[best] /bɛst/
adjective, superl. of good with better as compar.
1.
of the highest quality, excellence, or standing:
the best work; the best students.
2.
most advantageous, suitable, or desirable:
the best way.
3.
largest; most:
the best part of a day.
adverb, superl. of well with better as compar.
4.
most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success:
an opera role that best suits her voice.
5.
in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination):
best-suited; best-known; best-loved.
noun
6.
something or someone that is best:
They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.
7.
a person's finest clothing:
It's important that you wear your best.
8.
a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded by at).
9.
a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often preceded by at).
10.
the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded by at):
cabinetmaking at its best.
11.
the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make:
Their best fell far short of excellence.
12.
a person's best wishes or kindest regards:
Please give my best to your father.
verb (used with object)
13.
to get the better of; defeat; beat:
He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.
Idioms
14.
all for the best, for the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage:
At the time it was hard to realize how it could be all for the best.
Also, for the best.
15.
as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances:
We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.
16.
at best, under the most favorable circumstances:
You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.
17.
get / have the best of,
  1. to gain the advantage over.
  2. to defeat; subdue:
    His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.
18.
had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to:
You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.
19.
make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible:
to make the best of a bad situation.
20.
with the best, on a par with the most capable:
He can play bridge with the best.
Origin
before 900; Middle English beste, Old English betst, best; cognate with Dutch best, Old High German bezzist (German best), Old Norse bezt, Gothic batists. See better1, -est
British Dictionary definitions for for the best

best

/bɛst/
adjective
1.
the superlative of good
2.
most excellent of a particular group, category, etc
3.
most suitable, advantageous, desirable, attractive, etc
4.
the best part of, most of: the best part of an hour
5.
put one's best foot forward
  1. to do one's utmost to make progress
  2. to hurry
adverb
6.
the superlative of well1
7.
in a manner surpassing all others; most excellently, advantageously, attractively, etc
8.
(in combination) in or to the greatest degree or extent; most: the best-loved hero
9.
as best one can, as best one may, as effectively as possible within one's limitations
10.
had best, would be wise, sensible, etc, to: you had best go now
noun
11.
the best, the most outstanding or excellent person, thing, or group in a category
12.
(often preceded by at) the most excellent, pleasing, or skilled quality or condition: journalism at its best
13.
the most effective effort of which a person or group is capable: even their best was inadequate
14.
a winning majority: the best of three games
15.
Also all the best. best wishes: she sent him her best
16.
a person's smartest outfit of clothing
17.
at best
  1. in the most favourable interpretation
  2. under the most favourable conditions
18.
for the best
  1. for an ultimately good outcome
  2. with good intentions: he meant it for the best
19.
get the best of, have the best of, to surpass, defeat, or outwit; better
20.
give someone the best, to concede someone's superiority
21.
make the best of, to cope as well as possible in the unfavourable circumstances of (often in the phrases make the best of a bad job, make the best of it)
22.
(informal) six of the best, six strokes with a cane on the buttocks or hand
verb
23.
(transitive) to gain the advantage over or defeat
Word Origin
Old English betst; related to Gothic batista, Old High German bezzist

Best

/bɛst/
noun
1.
Charles Herbert. 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922
2.
George. 1946–2005, Northern Ireland footballer
Word Origin and History for for the best

best

adj.

Old English beste, reduced by assimilation of -t- from earlier Old English betst "best, first, in the best manner," originally superlative of bot "remedy, reparation," the root word now only surviving in to boot (see boot (n.2)), though its comparative, better, and superlative, best, have been transferred to good (and in some cases well). From Proto-Germanic root *bat-, with comparative *batizon and superlative *batistaz (cf. Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Middle Dutch best, Old High German bezzist, German best, Old Norse beztr, Gothic batists).

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

[Burns]
Best-seller as short for "best-selling book" is from 1902, apparently originally in the publishing trade; best friend was in Chaucer (late 14c.). Best girl is first attested 1881, American English; best man is 1814, originally Scottish, replacing groomsman. To be able to do something with the best of them is recorded by 1748.

v.

"to get the better of," 1863, from best (adj.). Related: Bested; besting.

n.

c.1200, from best (adj.).

for the best in Medicine

Best (běst), Charles Herbert. 1899-1978.

American-born Canadian physiologist noted for the discovery and successful clinical application of insulin.

for the best in Science
Best
  (běst)   
American-born Canadian physiologist who assisted Frederick Banting in the discovery of the hormone insulin. In acknowledgment of his work, Banting shared his portion of the 1923 Nobel Prize with Best. In addition to further refining the use of insulin, Best later discovered the vitamin choline and the enzyme histaminase, which breaks down histamine.
Slang definitions & phrases for for the best

best

Related Terms

someone's level best


Idioms and Phrases with for the best

for the best

see: all for , def. 2.

best

also see:
also see under:
better