of the highest quality, excellence, or standing

the best work; the best students.

most advantageous, suitable, or desirable

the best way.

largest; most

the best part of a day.

most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success

an opera role that best suits her voice.

in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination)

best-suited; best-known; best-loved.

something or someone that is best

They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.

a person's finest clothing

It's important that you wear your best.

a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often prec. by at ).

a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often prec. by at ).

the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often prec. by at )

cabinetmaking at its best.

the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make

Their best fell far short of excellence.

a person's best wishes or kindest regards

Please give my best to your father.

to get the better of; defeat; beat

He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.

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.

as best one can

in the best way possible under the circumstances

We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.

at best

under the most favorable circumstances

You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.

get or have the best of

to gain the advantage over.

to defeat; subdue

His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.

had best

would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to

You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.

make the best of

to cope with in the best way possible

to make the best of a bad situation.

with the best

on a par with the most capable

He can play bridge with the best.

adjective

worst , incorrect , not right , fewest , least

adverb

worst

noun

worst

verb

give up , lose , relent , surrender

adjective

10 , a-1 * , ace , bad * , beyond compare , boss * , capital , champion , chief , choicest , cool * , culminating , finest , first , first-class , first-rate , foremost , greatest , highest , incomparable , inimitable , leading , matchless , nonpareil , number 1 , optimum , out-of-sight , outstanding , paramount , peerless , perfect , preeminent , premium , prime , primo , principal , sans pareil , second to none , super , superlative , supreme , terrific , tops , tough , transcendent , unequaled , unparalleled , unrivaled , unsurpassed , advantageous , apt , desirable , golden , most desirable , most fitting , preferred , presentable , biggest , bulkiest , largest , optimal , better , greater , larger , most , choice , consummate , crowning , elite , good , grand , nulli secundus , panglossian , par excellence , richest , supereminent , superior , superordinary , superordinate , ultimate , utmost

adverb

advantageously , attractively , creditably , extremely , gloriously , greatly , honorably , illustriously , magnanimously , most deeply , most fortunately , most fully , most highly , sincerely

noun

choice , cream , cream of the crop * , elite , fat , favorite , finest , first , flower , gem , model , nonpareil , paragon , pick , prime , prize , select , top , all one’s got , best shot , hardest , highest endeavor , level best , sunday best , utmost , crme de la crme , respect , chosen , highlight , ne plus ultra , preeminence , tops , ultimacy , vintage

verb

beat , beat up * , better , blank * , blast * , bulldoze * , clobber * , conquer , cream * , deck * , drub * , exceed , excel , flax , floor * , get the better of , knock off * , ko , lambaste , let have it , lick * , master , outclass , outdo , outshine , outstrip , overcome , prevail , put away , shoot down * , shut down , surpass , take care of , take down * , tan * , thrash * , top , total , transcend , trash * , triumph , triumph over , trounce , wallop , waste * , wax * , whip * , whomp , whop , wipe * , wipe out , wipe the floor with , zap * , outmatch , outrun , pass , prevail against , rout , subdue , subjugate , surmount , vanquish , worst , ace , bad , boss , champion , choice , cream , defeat , edge , elite , excellent , finest , foremost , greatest , largest , most , nonpareil , optimum , paramount , par excellence , peerless , pick , pip , preeminent , primo , topnotch , unsurpassed , utmost