Etymology 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”).
1
Superlative superlative form of good: most good.
I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
[…] when he is beſt, he is a little worſe then a man, and when he is worſt, he is little better than a beaſt:c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 163, column 1:
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Heav'ns laſt beſt gift, my ever new delight,1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 19:
Swinging in the backyard Pull up in your fast car whistling my name Open up a beer And you say get over here and play a video game […] I say you the bestest Lean in for a big kiss, put his favorite perfume on Go play your video game2011 October 7, Lana Del Rey, Justin Parker, “Video Games”, in Born to Die, performed by Lana Del Rey:
Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult.[…]Governments have to find the best people to fill important jobs: there is a limited supply of people who understand the financial system, for example. But governments must also remember that businesses are self-interested actors who will try to rig the system for their own benefit.2013 August 10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
There's no common goal There's no common feeling To have the best house in the worst city2025 July 19, Pacifik, “Country’s Calling”, in Wonderfool, performed by Pacifik:
2
Most; largest.
Unpacking took the best part of a week.
3
Most superior; most favorable.
In my opinion, mushrooms are the best pizza toppings.
Etymology 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”).
1
Superlative superlative form of well: most well
A popular aphorism says it best: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Out of my ſight, thou Serpent, that name beſt Befits thee with him leagu'd, thy ſelf as falſe And hateful;1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 867–869:
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But had we beſt retire, I ſee a ſtorm?1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 65, line 1072:
He prayeth best, who loveth best / All things both great and small.1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:
At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
2
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.
Had I not best go to her?1854, Arthur Pendennis [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], →OCLC:
Related terms
best off
best
noun
Etymology 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”).
1
Often, Used after possessive determiners The supreme effort one can make, or has made.
I did my best.
My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.
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Home defender Per Mertesacker had to be at his best to stop a dangerous cross from Vassilis Torossidis reaching Djebbour, but moments later Arsenal doubled their lead through Santos.2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport:
2
Often, Used after possessive determiners 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.
3
Often, Used after definite article 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...
We're (the) best of friends, who fortunately enjoy the best of health.
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I love it so much! It's the best.
Mel Gussow reviews the bests of off off Broadway1994, Otis L. Guernsey, Jeffrey Sweet, The Best Plays of 1993-1994, page vii:
But in true Cincinnati style, the bests consistently outnumber the worsts.1995 October, Cincinnati Magazine, page 5:
There are the bests for each institution, the bests for coalitions, and, of course, the bests for the group as a whole.2011, G. Edward Evans, Sheila S. Intner, Jean Riddle Weihs, Introduction to Technical Services, page 149:
Etymology 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”).
1
To surpass in skill or achievement.
2
To beat in a contest.
The Norddeutscher Lloyd steamship Kronprinz Wilhelm left New York on May 3 [1904], at 3.10 p.m. and reached Plymouth Sound on May 9 at 8 a.m. This was then a very fast crossing of the Atlantic, but it was not the record. The same ship had held the "Blue Riband" in 1902, but had been slightly bested by the Kaiser Wilhelm II, a larger vessel of the same line, in 1903, and that stood as the record until the Cunard Line secured the honours in 1909 with the Mauretania and held them for an unbroken period of 20 years.1944 July and August, Charles E. Lee, “The "City of Truro"”, in Railway Magazine, pages 201–202:
"You did not win because I was sloppy. You bested me, Uncle. I've never seen you fight like that before.”2010, T. William Phillips, Restless Heart, page 16:
'We best be going,' she said, looking at the clock.1935, Edward Joseph O'Brien, John Cournos, editors, The Best British Short Stories of 1935, page 37:
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Brother, you best be gone when I return.2010, Mary B. Morrison, Somebody's Gotta Be On Top: