best

- See Also:
- - become
  - before
  - begin
  - behaviour
  - behind
  - believe
  - belong
  - below
  - beneath
  - beside
  - best
  - better
  - between
  - beware
  - bid
  - big
  - bill
  - billfold
  - billion
  - bit
  - bite
- Recent searches:
- View All

[links]

ⓘ One or more forum threads is an exact match of your searched term

From good (adj):

better: adj comparative

best: adj superlative

From well (adv):

Some senses of the adverb "well" are invariable.

better: adv comparative

best: adv superlative

best

Best is the superlative form of both good and well.

➜ See good - well

If you do your best, you try as hard as you can to achieve something.

good - well

‘good’

Something that is good is pleasant, acceptable, or satisfactory. The comparative form of good is better. The superlative form is best.

Your French is better than mine.

This is the best cake I've ever eaten.

‘well’

Good is never an adverb. If you want to say that something is done to a high standard or to a great extent, you use well, not ‘good’.

She speaks English well.

I don't know him very well.

➜ See well

The comparative form of well is better. The superlative form is best.

I changed seats so I could see better.

Use the method that works best for you.

➜ See better

well

used before a statement

In conversation, people sometimes say well when they are about to make a statement. Well can show that someone is hesitating or uncertain, but sometimes it has no meaning at all.

‘Is that right?’ – ‘Well, I think so.’

In conversation, people also use well when they are correcting something they have just said.

We walked along in silence; well, not really silence, because she was humming.

It took me years, well months at least, to realise that he'd lied to me.

used as an adverb

Well is very commonly an adverb.

You use well to say that something is done to a high standard or to a great extent.

He handled it well.

The strategy has worked very well in the past.

You use well to emphasize some -ed participles when they are part of a passive construction.

You seem to be well liked at work.

When well is used with an -ed participle like this to make a compound adjective that comes before a noun, the compound usually has a hyphen.

She was seen having dinner with a well-known actor.

This is a very well-established custom.

When the compound adjective comes after a verb, don't use a hyphen.

The author is well known in his native country of Scotland.

Their routine of a morning walk was well established.

You also use well in front of some prepositions such as ahead of and behind.

The candidate is well ahead of his rivals in the opinion polls.

The border now lay well behind them.

When well is an adverb, its comparative and superlative forms are better and best.

People are better housed than ever before.

What works best is a balanced, sensible diet.

used as an adjective

Well is also an adjective. If you are well, you are healthy and not ill.

She looked well.

‘How are you?’ – ‘I’m very well, thank you.'

Most British speakers do not use well in front of a noun. They don't say, for example, ‘He’s a well man'. They say ‘He’s well'. However, American and Scottish speakers sometimes use well in front of a noun.

When well is an adjective, it does not have a comparative form. However, you can use better to say that the health of a sick person has improved. When better is used like this, it means ‘less ill’.

He seems better today.

Better is more commonly used to say that someone has completely recovered from an illness or injury.

I hope you'll be better soon.

Her cold was better.

➜ See better

‘as well’

You use as well when you are giving more information about something.

Fresh fruit is healthier than tinned fruit. And it tastes nicer as well.

The woman laughed, and Jayah giggled as well.

➜ See also - too - as well

'best' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

according to - advice - answer - anxious - bottom - certain - convince - everyone - good - hard - kind - mathematics - nationality - north - one - one - point - really - recommend - return - ride - terrible - the - try - very - way - well - which - whole

Forum discussions with the word(s) "best" in the title:

Visit the English Only Forum.
Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

Advertisements

Advertisements

Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com WORD OF THE DAY GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.