1. (superlative of ‘good’) having the most positive qualities
   "the best time for planting"; "wore his best suit"; "the best film of the year"; "the best solution"
    
2. (comparative and superlative of ‘well’) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
   "the White House thought it best not to respond";
   - better

1. The supreme effort one can make
   "they did their best"
    
2. The person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others
   "he could beat the best of them";
   - topper [Brit, archaic, informal], crème de la crème

1. In a most excellent way or manner
   "he played best after a couple of martinis"
    
2. In a way that would be for the best or sensible
   "you'd best stay at home"
    
3. From a position of superiority or authority
   "father knows best";
   - better

1. Get the better of
   "the goal was to best the competition";
   - outdo, outflank, trump, outgun

1. Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
   - C. H. Best, Charles Herbert Best

1. Having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
   "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"
    
2. Morally admirable
   "Her good deeds were recognized by the community"
    
3. Having the normally expected amount
   "a good mile from here"; "gives good measure";
   - full
    
4. Deserving of respect or high regard
   "ruined the family's good name";
   - estimable, honorable [US], respectable, admirable, honourable [Brit, Cdn]
    
5. Agreeable or pleasing
   "we all had a good time"; "good manners"
    
6. Promoting or enhancing well-being
   "the experience was good for her";
   - beneficial
    
7. Of moral excellence
   "a genuinely good person";
   - just, upright
    
8. Generally admired
   "good taste"
    
9. Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
   "a good mechanic";
   - adept, expert, practiced [N. Amer], proficient, skillful [N. Amer], skilful [Brit, Cdn], practised [Brit, Cdn]
    
10. Resulting favourably
    "it's a good thing that I wasn't there"; "it is good that you stayed";
    - well
     
11. Most suitable or right for a particular purpose
    "a good time to plant tomatoes";
    - right, ripe
     
12. Thorough
    "gave the house a good cleaning"; "had a good workout";
    - proper
     
13. In excellent physical condition
    "good teeth"; "I still have one good leg";
    - sound
     
14. Tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
    "a good night's sleep";
    - salutary
     
15. Appealing to the mind
    "good music";
    - serious
     
16. Capable of pleasing
    "good looks"
     
17. Exerting force or influence
    "a warranty good for two years";
    - effective, in effect, in force
     
18. Financially safe
    "a good investment";
    - dependable, safe, secure
     
19. With or in a close or intimate relationship
    "a good friend";
    - dear, near
     
20. Not forged
    "a good dollar bill";
    - honest
     
21. Not left to spoil
    "the meat is still good";
    - unspoiled, unspoilt [Brit]

Derived forms: bested, bests, besting

See also: acceptable, advantageous, advisable, ample, angelic, angelical, bang-up [N. Amer, informal], beatific, better, bully [informal], champion, close, complete, copious, corking [Brit, informal], cracking [Brit, informal], dandy [informal], decent, discriminating, echt, favorable [US], favourable [Brit, Cdn], first, foremost, fortunate, fresh, genuine, good, good enough, goodish, goodness, goody-goody [informal], go-to-meeting, great, green, groovy [informal], grouse [Austral, NZ, informal], healthful, healthy, high-grade, hot [informal], incomparable, instagood, intellectual, keen, lovely, magnificent, moral, neat, nice, nifty [informal], not bad [informal], not half bad [informal], obedient, old, operative, opportune, optimal, optimum, peachy, pleasing, plenteous [literary], plentiful, primo, prizewinning, quality, record-breaking, redeeming, redemptive, reputable, respectable, rich, right, righteous, ripper [Austral, informal], sainted, saintlike, saintly, satisfactory, saving, second-best, skilled, slap-up [informal], smashing [Brit, informal], solid, sound, Sunday-go-to-meeting [US, informal], superb, superfine, superior, swell [informal], top, top-grade, top-quality, unbeaten, uncomparable, unexceeded, unexcelled, unsurpassable, unsurpassed, virtuous, well behaved, well-behaved, white, world-beating, world-class, worthy

Type of: actor, attempt, beat, beat out, crush, doer, effort, endeavor [US], endeavour [Brit, Cdn], physiologist, shell [US], trounce, try, vanquish, worker

Antonym: bad, evil, worst

Encyclopedia: Best, North Carolina