Best | Mean of best in English Dictionary

/ˈbɛst/

• better than all others in quality or value
1. You should wear your best clothes tonight.
2. He took us to the (very) best restaurants in the city.
3. We ate the best food and drank the best wines.
4. You're our best customers.
5. His modesty and sense of humor are his best qualities.
6. Is that your best offer?
7. I've had the best time with you! [=I've had a very enjoyable time with you]
8. The best [=most valuable] things in life are free.
9. Which of these do you think tastes best?
10. Mary sends you her very best wishes/regards.
11. He's my best friend. [=my closest/dearest friend] = He and I are best friends.
• most skillful, talented, or successful
1. She's the best student in her class.
2. He won the award for best actor in a drama.
3. the team's best player
• most appropriate, useful, or helpful
1. She truly believes that this is the best way to solve the problem.
2. She's the team's best hope/chance for a medal.
3. She thought waiting was best. = She thought that the best thing to do was to wait. = She thought that it was best to wait.
4. It's best to leave early if you want to be sure of arriving on time.
5. We want to do what's best for you.
6. He's the best man for the job.
7. You should do whatever you think is the best thing to do. = You should do whatever you think best.
8. We're making the best possible use of these materials.

• in the best way
1. The sauce is best served/eaten/enjoyed cold.
2. His cooking is best described as spicy. = It can best be described as spicy.
3. They work best under pressure.
4. That's what we do best!
5. We need to think about how best to fix this problem.
6. This is a job best left to the professionals. [=it's better/best to allow professional workers to do this job]
7. Some things are best left unsaid. [=it's better/best not to talk about some things]
• to the greatest degree or extent
1. That's the one we liked (the) best.
2. The work should be done by the people who are best able to do it.
3. She's best suited to life in the city.
4. He is best known for his invention of the light bulb.
5. The museum features some of the best-known examples of this style of painting.
6. the industry's best-kept secret
• as well, skillfully, or accurately as you can
1. She answered their questions as best she could. [=as well as she could]
2. You don't have to do it perfectly. Just do it the best you can.
• Noun
• the best person or thing
1. Out of all of my workers, he's the best.
2. Our company is the best in the business.
3. Thanks, Dad. You're the best!
4. I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last.
5. Our store sells nothing but the best. = We sell only the best. [=the best products]
6. She's one of the best in the world. = She's among the best.
7. Bad things happen to the best of us.
8. They want the best for their children.
9. Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills.
10. In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water.
11. He can compete with the best of them. [=he can compete as well as anyone]
12. We were the best of friends. [=we were very good friends]
13. I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds.
14. Problems can occur even in/under the best of circumstances. [=even if the situation is as good as possible]
15. All of the students are good, but these three are the best of the bunch. [=the best ones in the group]
• someone's or something's most effective, capable, or successful condition
1. He's at his best in front of a live audience.
2. She's at her best in the morning.
3. This is democracy at its best.
• the highest level that you can do or achieve
1. Was that your best? = Was that the best you could do?
2. No one expects you to do the job perfectly. Just do your best. = Just do the best you can. [=do as well as you can]
3. He did his best to help them.
4. Her time in the race was a personal best. [=it was the fastest time she had ever achieved]
• having or producing a better result
1. I won't be able to go, but maybe it's all for the best. I have a lot of work to do anyway.
• to feel very healthy
1. Exercise helps you look and feel your best.
2. I'm not feeling my best this morning. [=I'm not feeling very well this morning]
• to look very good
1. Try to look your best when interviewing for a job.
• to use (something) in an effective way
1. We may not get another chance, so we need to make the best of this opportunity.
• to deal with (a bad situation) as well as possible
1. Life is not very good right now—but let's try to make the best of it.
2. We're trying to make the best (out) of a bad situation. = (Brit) We're trying to make the best of a bad job.
• as well as you are able to
1. Every game, we go out and play to the best of our ability.
• Verb
• to do better than (someone or something)
1. They were bested [=beaten] by their opponents in the opening game.