most
[ mohst ]
/ moʊst /
adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.
noun
adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.
Idioms for most
Origin of most
before 900; Middle English
most(e), Old English
māst; replacing Middle English
mest(e), Old English
mǣst; cognate with German
meist, Gothic
maists. See
more
synonym study for most
11. See
almost.
usage note for most
11. The adverb
most, a shortened form of
almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as
all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and
everybody; the adjectives
all, any, and
every; and adverbs like
anywhere and
everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of
most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH most
almost mostWords nearby most
Definition for most (2 of 4)
many
[ men-ee ]
/ ˈmɛn i /
adjective, more, most.
constituting or forming a large number; numerous: many people.
noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a or an): For many a day it rained.
noun
a large or considerable number of persons or things: A good many of the beggars were blind.
the many,
the greater part of humankind.
pronoun
many persons or things: Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.
Origin of many
before 900; Middle English
mani, meni, Old English
manig, menig; akin to Old Saxon, Old High German
manag, menig, Danish
mange, Gothic
manags
SYNONYMS FOR many
1
multifarious,
multitudinous,
myriad;
divers,
sundry,
various.
Many,
innumerable,
manifold,
numerous imply the presence or succession of a large number of units.
Many is a popular and common word for this idea:
many times.
Numerous, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units:
letters too numerous to mention.
Innumerable denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count:
the innumerable stars in the sky.
Manifold implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.
OTHER WORDS FROM many
o·ver·man·y, adjectiveDefinition for most (3 of 4)
much
[ muhch ]
/ mʌtʃ /
adjective, more, most.
great in quantity, measure, or degree: too much cake.
noun
a great quantity, measure, or degree: Much of his research was unreliable.
a great, important, or notable thing or matter: The house is not much to look at.
adverb, more, most.
to a great extent or degree; greatly; far: to talk too much; much heavier.
nearly, approximately, or about: This is much like the others.
Origin of much
1150–1200; Middle English
muche, moche, apocopated variant of
muchel, mochel, Old English
mycel; replacing Middle English
miche(l), Old English
micel great, much (cf.
mickle), cognate with Old Norse
mikill, Gothic
mikils, Greek
mégal-, suppletive stem of
mégas great
Definition for most (4 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for most (1 of 4)
most
/ (məʊst) /
determiner
adverb
Word Origin for most
Old English
māst or
mǣst, whence Middle English
moste, mēst; compare Old Frisian
maest, Old High German
meist, Old Norse
mestr
usage for most
More and
most should be distinguished when used in comparisons.
More applies to cases involving two persons, objects, etc,
most to cases involving three or more
British Dictionary definitions for most (2 of 4)
-most
suffix
forming the superlative degree of some adjectives and adverbs
hindmost; uppermost
Word Origin for -most
Old English
-mǣst, -mest, originally a superlative suffix, later mistakenly taken as derived from
mǣst (adv) most
British Dictionary definitions for most (3 of 4)
many
/ (ˈmɛnɪ) /
determiner
(sometimes preceded by a great or a good)
- a large number ofmany coaches; many times
- (as pronoun; functioning as plural)many are seated already
(foll by a, an, or another, and a singular noun)
each of a considerable number of
many a man
(preceded by as, too, that, etc)
- a great number ofas many apples as you like; too many clouds to see
- (as pronoun; functioning as plural)I have as many as you
noun
the many
the majority of mankind, esp the common people
the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper Compare few (def. 7)
Word Origin for many
Old English
manig; related to Old Frisian
manich, Middle Dutch
menech, Old High German
manag
British Dictionary definitions for most (4 of 4)
much
/ (mʌtʃ) /
determiner
adverb
adjective
(predicative; usually used with a negative)
impressive or important
this car isn't much
Word Origin for much
Old English
mycel; related to Old English
micel great, Old Saxon
mikil, Gothic
mikils; compare also Latin
magnus, Greek
megas
Idioms and Phrases with most (1 of 3)
most
see at most; for the most part; make the most of.
Idioms and Phrases with most (2 of 3)
many
Idioms and Phrases with most (3 of 3)
much