best

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   it would be sensible

   you'd best stay at home

2. 2
   adv

   in a most excellent way or manner

   The band played best after a couple of martinis.

3. 3
   adv

   from a position of superiority or authority

   father knows best

4. 4
   adj

   (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities

   the best film of the year

5. 5
   noun

   the supreme effort one can make

   they did their best

6. 6
   verb

   to get the better of

   The goal was to best the competition.

7. 7
   adj

   superlative form of good: most good.

   I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.

8. 8
   adj

   Most; largest.

   Unpacking took the best part of a week.

Etymology

From Middle English best, beste, from Old English betst, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).