best

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛst/ Rhymes: -ɛst === Etymology 1 === From Middle English beste, best, from Old English betst, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. ==== Adjective ==== best (comparative (nonstandard, humorous) bester, superlative (nonstandard, humorous) bestest) superlative form of good: most good. Most; largest. Most superior; most favorable. ===== Usage notes ===== The comparative gooder and superlative goodest derived from the positive good are nonstandard. In informal (often jocular) contexts, best may be inflected further and given the comparative bester and the superlative bestest; these forms are also nonstandard. ===== Synonyms ===== optimal ===== Antonyms ===== worst baddest (nonstandard) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Adverb ==== best superlative form of well: most well To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety. ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== ==== Noun ==== best (countable and uncountable, plural bests) (uncountable, often used after possessive determiners) The supreme effort one can make, or has made. (uncountable, often used after possessive determiners) One's best behavior. (countable, often used after definite article) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent. ===== Derived terms ===== first best hope for the best, prepare for the worst level best personal best ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== best (third-person singular simple present bests, present participle besting, simple past and past participle bested) (transitive) To surpass in skill or achievement. (transitive) To beat in a contest. ===== Conjugation ===== ===== Antonyms ===== worst ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== better bestest === Etymology 2 === Shortening of had best ==== Verb ==== best (modal, colloquial) Had best. ===== Usage notes ===== Although it is sometimes considered an adverb, best is virtually synonymous with should in "We best be going," and ought to in "We best go." Should and ought are auxiliary verbs. === References === “best”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “best”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === BTEs, Bets, bets == Dutch == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bɛst/ Hyphenation: best Rhymes: -ɛst Homophone: Best === Etymology 1 === From Middle Dutch best, from Old Dutch *betst, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz, superlative of *gōdaz. Compare Low German best, English best, West Frisian best, German besten, Danish bedst. ==== Adjective ==== best superlative degree of goed; best fine, okay dear, venerable (in a polite address) ===== Declension ===== (definite inflected form): beste ===== Synonyms ===== (fine): prima ===== Descendants ===== Afrikaans: beste Berbice Creole Dutch: besti Negerhollands: bes, best →? Sranan Tongo: besi ==== Adverb ==== best quite, rather === Etymology 2 === ==== Noun ==== best f (plural besten, diminutive bestje n) (dated, chiefly diminutive) alternative form of bes (“old woman”) == Middle Dutch == === Etymology === From Old Dutch *betst, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /best/ === Adjective === best best; superlative degree of goet === Adverb === best best; superlative degree of wel ==== Descendants ==== Dutch: bestAfrikaans: besteBerbice Creole Dutch: bestiNegerhollands: bes, best→? Sranan Tongo: besi Limburgish: bès == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === ==== Adjective ==== best alternative form of beste ==== Adverb ==== best alternative form of beste === Etymology 2 === ==== Noun ==== best alternative form of beeste == North Frisian == === Verb === best second-person singular present of wiis == Norwegian Bokmål == === Etymology === From Old Norse beztr. === Adjective === best indefinite singular superlative degree of god: best indefinite singular superlative degree of bra: best ==== Derived terms ==== bestselger bestselgende === References === “best” in The Bokmål Dictionary. == Norwegian Nynorsk == === Etymology === From Old Norse beztr. === Adjective === best indefinite singular superlative degree of god: best indefinite singular superlative degree of bra === References === “best” in The Nynorsk Dictionary. == Old Saxon == === Alternative forms === betst === Etymology === From Proto-Germanic *batistaz. === Adverb === best best ==== Descendants ==== Low German: best == Plautdietsch == === Verb === best second-person singular present of sennen == Polish == === Pronunciation === (Masovia): (Podlachia) IPA(key): [ˈbɛst] === Noun === best m inan (Podlachia, Tykocin) alternative form of bez === Further reading === Jan Karłowicz (1900), “bez”, in Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 1: A do E, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 67 == Portuguese == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English best. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -ɛsti === Noun === best m or f by sense (plural bests) (Brazil, informal) bestie (best friend) Synonyms: bestie, BFF === Further reading === “best”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2026 == Scots == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [bɛst] === Adjective === best superlative degree of guid ==== Derived terms ==== ill-best (“best of a bad lot, best of a poor selection”) === Noun === best (plural bests) groomsman == Swedish == === Etymology === Ultimately from Latin bēstia. === Pronunciation === Homophone: bäst === Noun === best c beast ==== Declension ==== === Anagrams === bets