What does "worst" mean?

1. (most bad) the most unpleasant, lowest quality, or most serious. 2. (most badly) in the most harmful or least successful way. 3. (the most unpleasant thing) the most difficult or unpleasant part of a situation. 4. (to defeat) to beat someone in a fight or a competition.

How do you use "worst"?

Always used with the definite article 'the' when preceding a noun. Often follows the verb or the object it modifies. Usually functions as the head of a noun phrase with 'the'. This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

Is it correct to say "This is the most worst day."?

No — say "This is the worst day.". Worst is already a superlative; do not use 'most' with it.

worst

adj. · adv. · n. · v.

US //ˈwɝst// UK //wˈɜːst// worst

1 most bad (adj.)
A2 Elementary

the most unpleasant, lowest quality, or most serious.

the superlative degree of 'bad', indicating the extreme of poor quality, severity, or unpleasantness.

Example

That was the worst film I have ever seen in my life.

Example

The worst outcome of the negotiations would be a total breakdown in communication between the two regional powers.

Usage

Always used with the definite article 'the' when preceding a noun.
- poorest
- lowest
- best
Pitfall

This is the most worst day.

This is the worst day.

Worst is already a superlative; do not use 'most' with it.
2 most badly (adv.)
B1 Intermediate

in the most harmful or least successful way.

the superlative degree of 'badly', describing an action performed with the maximum degree of incompetence or negative effect.

Example

Of all the players, he performed the worst during the final match.

Example

The areas situated along the coast were the worst affected by the hurricane's landfall.

Usage

Often follows the verb or the object it modifies.
- least well
- best

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3 the most unpleasant thing (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the most difficult or unpleasant part of a situation.

the most negative or harmful possibility, part, or eventuality.

Example

The rain was heavy, but the worst of the storm is now over.

Example

Economists fear that the worst is yet to come regarding the rise in inflation rates.

Usage

Usually functions as the head of a noun phrase with 'the'.
- nadir
- bottom
- best
4 to defeat (v.)
C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

to beat someone in a fight or a competition.

to gain the advantage over or defeat an opponent.

Example

The small army worsted their enemies despite being outnumbered.

Example

The incumbent was worsted in the televised debate, failing to provide coherent answers to the moderator's questions.

Usage

This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

Teacher's tip

This verbal use is rare in modern speech; students will mostly encounter it in older literature or formal historical accounts.
- lose

Origin

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic wirsistaz, superlative form of ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Idioms5 entries