3best noun
[singular] 1 the best : the best person or thing
▪ Out of all of my workers, he's the best. ▪ Our company is the best in the business. ▪ Thanks, Dad. You're the best! ▪ I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last. : the best group of people or things ▪ Our store sells nothing but the best. = We sell only the best. [=the best products] ▪ She's one of the best in the world. = She's among the best. ▪ Bad things happen to the best of us. ▪ They want the best for their children. ▪ Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills. ▪ In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water. ▪ He can compete with the best of them. [=he can compete as well as anyone] ▪ We were the best of friends. [=we were very good friends] ▪ I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds. ▪ Problems can occur even in/under the best of circumstances. [=even if the situation is as good as possible] ▪ All of the students are good, but these three are the best of the bunch. [=the best ones in the group] — see also sunday best 2 : someone's or something's most effective, capable, or successful condition — used in phrases like at your best and at its best ▪ He's at his best in front of a live audience. ▪ She's at her best in the morning. ▪ This is democracy at its best. 3 : the highest level that you can do or achieve
▪ Was that your best? = Was that the best you could do? ▪ No one expects you to do the job perfectly. Just do your best. = Just do the best you can. [=do as well as you can] ▪ He did his best to help them. ▪ Her time in the race was a personal best. [=it was the fastest time she had ever achieved]
▪ Out of all of my workers, he's the best. ▪ Our company is the best in the business. ▪ Thanks, Dad. You're the best! ▪ I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last. : the best group of people or things ▪ Our store sells nothing but the best. = We sell only the best. [=the best products] ▪ She's one of the best in the world. = She's among the best. ▪ Bad things happen to the best of us. ▪ They want the best for their children. ▪ Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills. ▪ In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water. ▪ He can compete with the best of them. [=he can compete as well as anyone] ▪ We were the best of friends. [=we were very good friends] ▪ I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds. ▪ Problems can occur even in/under the best of circumstances. [=even if the situation is as good as possible] ▪ All of the students are good, but these three are the best of the bunch. [=the best ones in the group] — see also sunday best
▪ Was that your best? = Was that the best you could do? ▪ No one expects you to do the job perfectly. Just do your best. = Just do the best you can. [=do as well as you can] ▪ He did his best to help them. ▪ Her time in the race was a personal best. [=it was the fastest time she had ever achieved]
(all) for the best
: having or producing a better result — used to say that something will have a good result even though it was not the intended result ▪ I won't be able to go, but maybe it's all for the best. I have a lot of work to do anyway.
(all) the best
◊If you wish someone (all) the best, you hope that person will be happy and successful.
▪ We wish you all the best in your new job.
▪ We wish you all the best in your new job.
at best
— used to refer to a result, condition, etc., that is the best one possible even though it is not very good ▪ The company won't make a profit this year. At best, they'll break even. ▪ The work won't be finished for another three months at best.
best of luck — see 1luck
best (out) of three (five, seven, etc.)
— used to say that the winner of a series of games will be the one who has won the most times after three (five, seven, etc.) games have been played
bring out the best in
◊If someone or something brings out the best in you, that person or thing helps you to use or show your best qualities.
▪ She seems to bring out the best in him. ▪ Performing in front of an audience brings out the best in me. [=I perform better when I am in front of an audience]
▪ She seems to bring out the best in him. ▪ Performing in front of an audience brings out the best in me. [=I perform better when I am in front of an audience]
feel your best
: to feel very healthy
▪ Exercise helps you look and feel your best. ▪ I'm not feeling my best this morning. [=I'm not feeling very well this morning]
▪ Exercise helps you look and feel your best. ▪ I'm not feeling my best this morning. [=I'm not feeling very well this morning]
get the best of
◊If an emotion or feeling gets the best of you, it causes you to do something that you should not do or that you are trying not to do.
▪ I did get a little carried away. I guess the excitement got the best of me. [=got the better of me] ▪ Their emotions have gotten the best of them.
▪ I did get a little carried away. I guess the excitement got the best of me. [=got the better of me] ▪ Their emotions have gotten the best of them.
look your best
: to look very good : to look as attractive and pleasant as possible
▪ Try to look your best when interviewing for a job.
▪ Try to look your best when interviewing for a job.
make the best of 1 : to use (something) in an effective way
▪ We may not get another chance, so we need to make the best of this opportunity. 2 : to deal with (a bad situation) as well as possible
▪ Life is not very good right now—but let's try to make the best of it. ▪ We're trying to make the best (out) of a bad situation. = (Brit) We're trying to make the best of a bad job.
▪ We may not get another chance, so we need to make the best of this opportunity.
▪ Life is not very good right now—but let's try to make the best of it. ▪ We're trying to make the best (out) of a bad situation. = (Brit) We're trying to make the best of a bad job.
the best is yet to come/be
— used to say that good things have happened but that even better things will happen in the future ▪ Life is good now, but the best is yet to come.
to the best of my knowledge — see knowledge
to the best of your ability
: as well as you are able to
▪ Every game, we go out and play to the best of our ability.
▪ Every game, we go out and play to the best of our ability.
to the best of your belief — see belief
