best

adjective of the most excellent or desirable type or quality.

↘most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised.

adverb to the highest degree; most.

↘to the highest standard.

↘most suitably, appropriately, or usefully.

noun (the best) that which is the most excellent or desirable.

↘(one's best) the highest standard or level attainable.

↘(in sport) a record performance.

verb informal outwit or get the better of.

Phrases

all the best best wishes.

at best taking the most optimistic view.

be for the best be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.

the best of three (or five etc.) victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified odd number of games.

the best part of most of.

best wishes an expression of hope for someone's future happiness.

get the best of overcome (someone).

give someone/thing best Brit. admit the superiority of someone or something.

had best would find it most sensible.

make the best of derive what limited advantage one can from (something unsatisfactory).

six of the best Brit. a caning as a punishment, traditionally with six strokes of the cane.

Origin

OE betest (adjective), betost (adverb), of Gmc origin.