One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Synonyms of best in English:
best
See definition of best
adjective
1‘the best hotel in Paris’
finest, greatest, top, foremost, leading, pre-eminent, premier, prime, first, chief, principal, supreme, of the highest quality, superlative, unrivalled, second to none, without equal, nonpareil, unsurpassed, unsurpassable, peerless, matchless, unparalleled, unbeaten, unbeatable, unexcelled, optimum, optimal, ultimate, surpassing, incomparable, ideal, perfect
highest, record-breaking
British top of the range
US top of the line
par excellence
informal star, number-one, one-in-a-million, a cut above the rest, top-drawer
rare unexampled
worst
2‘do whatever you think best’
most advantageous, most suitable, most fitting, most appropriate, most apt
most prudent, most sensible, most advisable, most desirable
adverb
1‘the best-dressed man in Britain’
to the highest standard, in the best way
worst
2‘the food he liked best’
most, to the greatest degree, to the highest degree
least
3‘this is best done at home’
most sensibly, most prudently, most wisely, most suitably, most fittingly, most advantageously, most usefully
better
noun
1‘people for whom only the best will do’
finest, top, cream, choice, choicest, prime, elite, crème de la crème, flower, jewel in the crown, nonpareil
informal the tops, the pick of the bunch
2‘he always tries to see the best in others’
most favourable aspect, most pleasant aspect, best point
advantage, asset, virtue, good point
3‘she dressed in her best’
best clothes, finery, Sunday best
informal best bib and tucker, glad rags
4‘give her my best when you see her’
best wishes, regards, kind regards, kindest regards, greetings, compliments, compliments of the season, felicitations, respects
love
verb
1‘he won't like being bested by a woman’
defeat, beat, get the better of, gain the advantage over, get the upper hand over, outdo, outwit, outsmart, worst, be more than a match for, prevail over, conquer, vanquish, trounce, triumph over
surpass, outclass, outshine, put someone in the shade, overshadow, eclipse
lick, get one over on
US own
Phrases
‘I'd best be going’
ought to, should
‘Lily was not at her best yesterday’
on top form, in the pink, in great shape, in the best of health
peak, prime
on song
in fine feather
‘Caroline had done her best to help him’
do one's utmost, try one's hardest, try as hard as one can, make every effort, spare no effort, do all one can, give one's all, be at pains
bend over backwards, fall over backwards, lean over backwards, do one's damnedest, go all out, pull out all the stops, bust a gut, break one's neck, move heaven and earth
do one's darnedest, do one's durnedest
go for the doctor