Idioms for worst

Origin of worst

before 900; Middle English worste (adj., adv., and noun), Old English wur(re)sta, wyr(re)st, wer(re)sta (adj. and adv.); cognate with Old Norse verstr; see worse, -est1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH worst

worst wurst

Words nearby worst

worset, worship, worship the ground someone walks on, worshipful, worssett, worst, worst case, worst-case, worsted, wort, worth

Words related to at worst

slightly, somewhat, partially, carelessly, halfway, inadequately, incompletely, insufficiently, notably, piecemeal, relatively, measurably, noticeably

British Dictionary definitions for at worst

Word Origin for worst

Old English wierrest; related to Old Frisian wersta, Old Saxon, Old High German wirsisto, Old Norse verstr

Idioms and Phrases with at worst (1 of 2)

at worst

Also, at the worst.

1

In the least favorable circumstance; under the most difficult conditions. For example, Convicted of taking a bribe, the official believed that at worst he would be sentenced to a few months in prison. [1500s]

2

In the least favorable view or supposition, as in No harm done; at the worst I'll copy the tax return again. Chaucer used this sense in Troilus and Cressida: “For at the worst, it may yet short our way.” [Late 1300s] For the antonym, see at best.

Idioms and Phrases with at worst (2 of 2)

worst

see at worst; get (have) the worst of it; if worst comes to worst; in the worst way. Also see under worse.