at best

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

best /bɛst/   adj., 

superlative form of good.
1. of the highest quality;
   the most excellent:
   Only the best students apply to our school.
2. most suitable or appropriate;
   of most benefit or of greatest advantage:
   Is this the best way to handle the problem?
   [it + be + ~ + clause]
   I thought it would be best if we discussed this first.
   [it + be + ~ + to + verb]
   It would be best not to wake her up.

adv., superlative form of well.

3. most excellently or suitably;
   most well:
   They gave her an opera role that best suits her voice.
4. in or to the highest degree;
   most:
   She is the best-known actress of our time.

n. [countable]

5. someone or something that is best:
   [the + ~] Even the best of us makes mistakes.
6. a person's finest clothing:
   [one's + ~] Promise me you'll wear your best to the wedding next week.
7. a person's highest degree of ability, effort, or health:
   [one's + ~] We're all trying ways to do our best.
8. salutations:
   [one's + ~] Give them my best. (= Convey to them my good wishes).

v. [~ + object]

9. to get the better of;
   beat:
   That team bested us in the finals.

Idioms

10. Idioms (all) for the best, producing good as the final result:
    It turned out to be all for the best when I didn't get that job.
11. Idioms as best one can, in the best way possible:
    As best I can tell, we're the first ones here.
12. Idioms at best, even under the most favorable circumstances possible:
    The job won't be finished for a month at best.
13. Idioms get or have the best of, [~ + object]
    • to gain the advantage over.
    • to defeat;
      subdue: The pain gotthe best of him.
14. Idioms had best, [~ + root form of a verb] ought to:
    You had best phone your mother.
15. Idioms make the best of, [~ + object] to cope with;
    accept:
    We're only going to be living here for a year; let's make the best of it.

See better.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

best  (best), adj., [superl. of] good [with] better [as compar.]

1. of the highest quality, excellence, or standing:
   the best work; the best students.
2. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable:
   the best way.
3. largest;
   most:
   the best part of a day.

adv., [superl. of] well [with] better [as compar.]

4. most excellently or suitably;
   with most advantage or success:
   an opera role that best suits her voice.
5. in or to the highest degree;
   most fully (usually used in combination):
   best-suited;
   best-known;
   best-loved.
6. Idioms as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances:
   We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.
7. Idioms had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to;
   ought to:
   You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.

n. 

8. something or someone that is best:
   They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.
9. a person's finest clothing:
   It's important that you wear your best.
10. a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often prec. by at).
11. a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often prec. by at).
12. the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often prec. by at):
    cabinetmaking at its best.
13. the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make:
    Their best fell far short of excellence.
14. a person's best wishes or kindest regards:
    Please give my best to your father.
15. Idioms all for the best, for the good as the final result;
    to an ultimate advantage:
    At the time it was hard to realize how it could be all for the best.
    Also, for the best. 
16. Idioms at best, under the most favorable circumstances:
    You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.
17. Idioms get or have the best of:
    • to gain the advantage over.
    • to defeat;
      subdue:
      His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.
18. Idioms make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible:
    to make the best of a bad situation.
19. Idioms with the best, on a par with the most capable:
    He can play bridge with the best.

v.t. 

20. to get the better of;
    defeat;
    beat:
    He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.

• bef. 900; Middle English beste, Old English betst, best; cognate with Dutch best, Old High German bezzist (German best), Old Norse bezt, Gothic batists. See better¹, -est

Best  (best), n. 

1. Biographical Charles Herbert, 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist, born in the U.S.: one of the discoverers of insulin.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

best / bɛst/ adjective

1. the superlative of good
2. most excellent of a particular group, category, etc
3. most suitable, advantageous, desirable, attractive, etc
4. the best part of ⇒ most of

adverb

1. the superlative of well1
2. in a manner surpassing all others; most excellently, advantageously, attractively, etc

noun

1. the best ⇒ the most outstanding or excellent person, thing, or group in a category
2. the most effective effort of which a person or group is capable
3. a winning majority
4. Also: all the best best wishes
5. a person's smartest outfit of clothing
6. at best ⇒ in the most favourable interpretation
7. under the most favourable conditions
8. for the best ⇒ for an ultimately good outcome
9. with good intentions
10. get the best of, have the best of ⇒ to surpass, defeat, or outwit; better
11. give someone the best ⇒ to concede someone's superiority
12. make the best of ⇒ to cope as well as possible in the unfavourable circumstances of (often in the phrases make the best of a bad job, make the best of it)

verb

1. (transitive) to gain the advantage over or defeat

Etymology: Old English betst; related to Gothic batista, Old High German bezzist