Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [at best]
- /æt bɛst/
- /ət best/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [at best]
- /æt bɛst/
Definitions of at best words
- phrase at best You use at best to indicate that even if you describe something as favourably as possible or if it performs as well as it possibly can, it is still not very good. 3
- noun at best in the most favourable interpretation 3
- noun at best under the most favourable conditions 3
- noun at best under the most favorable conditions or interpretation 3
- noun at best at most 3
- adjective at best of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of at best
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 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, -est1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for At best
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
at best popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
at best usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for at best
adv at best
- slightly — small in amount, degree, etc.: a slight increase; a slight odor.
- somewhat — in some measure or degree; to some extent: not angry, just somewhat disturbed.
- partially — being such in part only; not total or general; incomplete: partial blindness; a partial payment of a debt.
- bit by bit — If something happens bit by bit, it happens in stages.
- by degrees — If something happens by degrees, it happens slowly and gradually.
Antonyms for at best
adv at best
- completely — having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full: a complete set of Mark Twain's writings.
- totally — wholly; entirely; completely.
- wholly — entirely; totally; altogether; quite.
See also
Matching words
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- Words starting with atbest