Added 7 October 2026
best
/bɛst/ adjective
In Latin: optimus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about best at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
adverb
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superlative form of well: most well
A popular aphorism says it best: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
-
To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
You'd best save a backup copy, just in case the morons lose the one that you sent and then try to act like you never sent one.
noun
-
The supreme effort one can make, or has made.
I did my best.
-
One's best behavior.
I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I’m nice to her, so I better be on my best.
-
The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.
Even the best of us makes mistakes, but only a few with the best of intentions...
verb
- To surpass in skill or achievement.
- To beat in a contest.
Origin
From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, 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 and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)