# greatest

/ˈɡɹeɪtəst/ (US) · /ɡɹˈeɪtəst/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/greatest
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the best or most important of its kind. You use this to describe something that is better than everything else in a group.

For teachers: the superlative form of 'great', indicating the highest degree of quality, importance, or size. Often used to denote preeminence in a specific field or category.

## Examples

- She is the greatest tennis player in history.
- The museum houses the greatest collection of Renaissance art in the entire country.
- Historians often debate which leader faced the greatest challenges during the transition to democracy, as each era presented unique social and economic pressures.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the most greatest" but "the greatest" — Greatest is already a superlative; adding 'most' creates a double superlative error.

## Usage notes

- Superlative form; almost always preceded by the definite article 'the'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.