MOST Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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most

[mohst]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number.
to win the most votes.
in the majority of instances.
Most operations are successful.
greatest, as in size or extent.
the most talent.

noun

the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost.
The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
the greatest number or the majority of a class specified.
Most of his writing is rubbish.
the greatest number.
The most this room will seat is 150.
the majority of persons.
to be more sensitive than most.
Slang.��the most, the ultimate in something.
He's the most. That movie was the most.

adverb

in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination-est ).
most rapid; most wisely.
extremely; very.
a most puzzling case.
Informal.��almost or nearly.

-most

a combining form of most occurring in a series of superlatives.
foremost; utmost.

most

/ ��əʊ�� /

determiner

1. a great majority of; nearly all
  most people like eggs
2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )
  most of them don't know
  most of it is finished
1. the superlative of many much
  you have the most money
  the most apples
2. ( as pronoun )
  the most he can afford is two pounds
at the maximum
that girl is four at the most
generally
to use to the best advantage
she makes the most of her accent
than most others
the leaves are greener than most
slang��wonderful
that chick's the most

adverb

used to form the superlative of some adjectives and adverbs
the most beautiful daughter of all
the superlative of much
people welcome a drink most after work
(intensifier)
a most absurd story
informal��almost
most every town in this state
John is the more intelligent of the two
he is the most intelligent of the students

-most

suffix

forming the superlative degree of some adjectives and adverbs
hindmost
uppermost

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Usage

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.

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of most¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English most(e), Old English ��; replacing Middle English mest(e), Old English ��ǣ��; cognate with German meist, Gothic maists; more

Origin of most²

Middle English -most; replacing Middle English, Old English -mest, double superlative suffix, equivalent to -ma superlative suffix (as in Old English forma first; compare Latin ��ī��ܲ� ) + -est ¹; later identified with most

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of most¹

Old English �� or ��ǣ��, whence Middle English moste, mēst; compare Old Frisian maest, Old High German meist, Old Norse mestr

Origin of most²

Old English -��ǣ��, -mest, originally a superlative suffix, later mistakenly taken as derived from ��ǣ�� (adv) most

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully.
to make the most of an opportunity.
for the most part. part.
at the most, at the maximum. Also at most.

see at most; for the most part; make the most of.

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Synonym Study

See almost.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

People in Tehran seem most worried about this.

From

He said the new record, made in the north of England with his best mates, was his "most ambitious and exciting music to date".

From

The most recent film in the trilogy, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” came out in 2019 and made almost $540 million globally.

From

In fact, “The Life of Chuck” makes the most terrifying assertion of the summer so far: Twee is headed for a revival.

From

She replied: "We've never dismissed the concerns of victims. These are the most important people in those discussions."

From

Related 51�Թ�s

almost��
exceedingly��
much��
nearly��
remarkably��
too��
very��

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When To Use

What does��-most��mean?

The combining form -most is used like a suffix meaning “most” in the sense of "in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number." Essentially, it is used to denote a superlative. It is often used in everyday and technical terms, particularly to indicate figurative or literal position or location.The form -most comes from Middle English -most. The Latin equivalent was -issimus, which is found in terms such as bravissimo. Find out more at our entry for bravissimo.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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