best
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.better than all others of the same kind.
adj.surpassing all others in excellence, quality, or desirability; the superlative of 'good'.
Simple“This is the best pizza I have ever eaten in this city.”
In context“After reviewing several competing proposals, the board concluded that this strategy offered the best chance of long-term growth.”
UsageUsually preceded by 'the' or a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'her'.
PitfallThis is the most best day of my life. This is the best day of my life.Since 'best' is already a superlative, you do not need to add 'most' before it.
- 02 A2 Elementary
adv.in the most excellent way or to the highest degree.
adv.to the highest degree or in the most effective manner; the superlative of 'well'.
Simple“She works best when the office is quiet and there are no distractions.”
In context“The software performs best on systems with at least sixteen gigabytes of memory and a dedicated graphics card.”
UsageOften follows the verb it modifies.
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.the highest level of effort you can possibly make.
n.the utmost effort or the highest standard of achievement a person is capable of.
Simple“I don't expect you to win, but I want you to do your best.”
In context“Despite her best, the athlete finished in fourth place, narrowly missing a spot on the podium.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'do one's best'.
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.the person or thing that is better than all the others.
n.the most excellent or desirable person, thing, or aspect within a group.
Simple“We only hire the best to work at our law firm.”
In context“The anthology features the best of modern poetry, selected by a panel of distinguished critics.”
UsageOften used as a collective noun with 'the'.
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to defeat someone in a fight or a competition.
v.to gain the advantage over or defeat an opponent in a contest or argument.
Simple“He finally bested his rival in the final round of the tournament.”
In context“The experienced politician was bested by the newcomer during the televised debate on economic policy.”
UsageA transitive verb requiring a direct object.
Usage best stories · best known · best way