Idioms for best
Words nearby best
Definition for best (2 of 5)
Best
[ best ]
/ bɛst /
noun
Charles Herbert,1899–1978,
Canadian physiologist, born in the U.S.: one of the discoverers of insulin.
Definition for best (3 of 5)
Origin of good
before 900; Middle English (adj., adv., and noun); Old English
gōd (adj.); cognate with Dutch
goed, German
gut, Old Norse
gōthr, Gothic
goths
SYNONYMS FOR good
synonym study for good
47. See
property.
usage note for good
Good is common as an adverb in informal speech, especially after forms of
do: He did good on the test. She sees good with her new glasses. This use does not occur in formal speech or edited writing, where the adverb
well is used instead:
He did well on the test. She sees well with her new glasses.
The adjective good is standard after linking verbs like taste, smell, look, feel, be, and seem: Everything tastes good. The biscuits smell good. You're looking good today. When used after look or feel, good may refer to spirits as well as health: I'm feeling pretty good this morning, ready to take on the world. Well is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective used after look, feel, or other linking verbs, it often refers to good health: You're looking well; we missed you while you were in the hospital. See also bad.
The adjective good is standard after linking verbs like taste, smell, look, feel, be, and seem: Everything tastes good. The biscuits smell good. You're looking good today. When used after look or feel, good may refer to spirits as well as health: I'm feeling pretty good this morning, ready to take on the world. Well is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective used after look, feel, or other linking verbs, it often refers to good health: You're looking well; we missed you while you were in the hospital. See also bad.
OTHER WORDS FROM good
qua·si-good, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH good
good well (see usage note at the current entry)Definition for best (4 of 5)
Origin of well
1
before 900; Middle English, Old English
wel(l) (adj. and adv.); cognate with Dutch
wel, German
wohl, Old Norse
vel, Gothic
waila
grammar notes for well
Sometimes an adverb like
well is so often placed in front of and combined with a certain past participle in order to modify it that the resulting adjectival combination achieves the status of a common word and is listed in dictionaries. In Dictionary.com you will find, for example, entries for
well-advised and
well-mannered; for
ill-advised, ill-bred, and
ill-conceived; and for
half-baked and
half-cocked. Some of these terms are given full definitions, while others are considered such obvious combinations that you can figure out for yourself what they must mean. It is important to note, however, that compound adjectives like these are hyphenated for use
before the noun they modify together. Thus we say that someone is “a well-loved professor,” but there would be no hyphen between
well and
loved in a sentence like “My English professor is well loved and deserves the award.”
In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ).
There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded.
Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!
In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ).
There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded.
Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!
usage note for well
See
good.
Definition for best (5 of 5)
Origin of well
2
before 900; (noun) Middle English
well(e), Old English
wylle, wella, welle; cognate with German
Welle wave; (v.) Middle English
wellen, Old English
wellan (cognate with Dutch
wellen, Old Norse
vella); both noun and v. ultimately akin to
weallan to boil
Example sentences from the Web for best
British Dictionary definitions for best (1 of 5)
Word Origin for best
Old English
betst; related to Gothic
batista, Old High German
bezzist
British Dictionary definitions for best (2 of 5)
Best
/ (bɛst) /
noun
Charles Herbert . 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922
George . 1946–2005, Northern Ireland footballer
British Dictionary definitions for best (3 of 5)
good
/ (ɡʊd) /
adjective better or best
interjection
an exclamation of approval, agreement, pleasure, etc
noun
See also
goods
Derived forms of good
goodish, adjectiveWord Origin for good
Old English
gōd; related to Old Norse
gōthr, Old High German
guot good
British Dictionary definitions for best (4 of 5)
Word Origin for well
Old English
wel; related to Old High German
wala, wola (German
wohl), Old Norse
val, Gothic
waila
British Dictionary definitions for best (5 of 5)
well
2
/ (wɛl) /
noun
verb
to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwards
tears welled from her eyes
Word Origin for well
Old English
wella; related to Old High German
wella (German
Welle wave), Old Norse
vella boiling heat
Medical definitions for best
Best
[ bĕst ]
American-born Canadian physiologist noted for the discovery and successful clinical application of insulin.
Scientific definitions for best (1 of 2)
Best
[ bĕst ]
American-born Canadian physiologist who assisted Frederick Banting in the discovery of the hormone insulin. In acknowledgment of his work, Banting shared his portion of the 1923 Nobel Prize with Best. In addition to further refining the use of insulin, Best later discovered the vitamin choline and the enzyme histaminase, which breaks down histamine.
Scientific definitions for best (2 of 2)
well
[ wĕl ]
A deep hole or shaft sunk into the Earth to tap a liquid or gaseous substance such as water, oil, gas, or brine. If the substance is not under sufficient pressure to flow freely from the well, it must be pumped or raised mechanically to the surface. Water or pressurized gas is sometimes pumped into a nonproducing oil well to push petroleum resources out of underground reservoirs. See also artesian well.
Idioms and Phrases with best (1 of 3)
best
Idioms and Phrases with best (2 of 3)
good
Idioms and Phrases with best (3 of 3)
well