Different word that means best

What is another word for “best”? Following is a list of synonyms for “best” with example sentences and ESL pictures. Learning these words to use instead of “best” will help you enhance your vocabulary.

Best Synonym

Best Definition and Examples

Meaning of “Best”: 

Noun: A quality in something or someone that is of the highest order; being of the highest quality or standard.

For example:

• “I would like you to make a list of the best restaurants in LA”
• “ You are the best guitarist in New York, so don’t worry about the concert”

Verb: Win against something or someone or outwit them.

For example:

• “I will best you in a duel every time, so don’t bother”
• “He easily bested his opponents in the arm wrestling competition”

Other Words for “Best”

Common synonyms for the word “best”.

• Chief
• Finest
• First
• Foremost
• Greatest
• Highest
• Ideal
• Optimal
• Perfect
• Principal
• Record-breaking
• Superlative
• Ultimate
• Unsurpassed

A huge list of 100+ different words to use instead of “best”.

• Able
• Above
• Appropriate
• Ascendant
• Best possible
• Better
• Biggest
• Champion
• Chief
• Choice
• Chosen
• Commanding
• Consummate
• Controlling
• Cream
• Crowning
• Dominant
• Easier
• Elite
• Eminent
• Enhanced
• Excellent
• Feasible
• Fine
• Finest
• First
• First-class
• First-rate
• Foremost
• Full
• Fully
• Further
• Furthermost
• Furthest
• Good
• Great
• Greater
• Greatest
• Headmost
• High
• Higher
• Highest
• Highest quality
• Ideal
• Impossible
• Improved
• Largest
• Leading
• Major
• Master
• Matchless
• Maximum
• Most
• Most appropriate
• Most suitable
• Nice
• Nicer
• Nicest
• Okay
• Optimal
• Optimum
• Outstanding
• Over
• Paramount
• Peak
• Peerless
• Perfect
• Possible
• Potential
• Predominant
• Pre-eminent
• Preferable
• Preferred
• Prettier
• Prettiest
• Prime
• Principal
• Proper
• Quintessential
• Rather
• Record-breaking
• Right
• Ruling
• Select
• Senior
• Signal
• Sovereign
• Superb
• Superior
• Superlative
• Supreme
• Top
• Ultimate
• Uncomparable
• Understanding
• Unsurpassed
• Uppermost
• Utmost
• Very best
• Vintage
• Well
• Worst
• Zenith

Best Synonyms Infographic

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Another Word for Best

Best Synonyms with Examples

Learn another word for “best” with example sentences.

• Chief

 Mrs Pankhurst was one of the chief protagonists of women’s rights.

• Finest

This is the finest home in this city.

• Foremost

He is considered the foremost British artist of this century.

• Greatest

Empty vessels make the greatest sound.

• Highest

The highest quality paper is made mostly from rags.

• Ideal

It was not the ideal solution to the problem.

• Optimal

This seems to be the optimal solution for the male.

• Perfect

Sometimes, the perfect person for you is the one you least expect.

• Principal

The principal reason for my change of mind is this.

• Record-breaking

 Part of this record-breaking hat trick was pulled off by Johnny Boy Gomes.

• Superlative

The superlative way is to find it back.

• Ultimate

The ultimate decision lies with the parents.

• Unsurpassed

It provides the unsurpassed couple and the safest transportation.

Synonyms for Best with Examples | Infographic

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Last Updated on January 10, 2021

Being «better off» means that things (other than yourself) are better for you. That is, you are able to be happier, or be in a better condition. For instance, being «better off» without Steve means that without him, your life would be better. Notice the distinction: Your life is better, not you yourself.

Being «better» means being superior in some way. That is, being smarter, stronger, kinder, etc. Merely being happier does not count as being «better», unless that happiness is useful for something. e.g. Seeing you happy makes others happy, therefore your happiness makes you better for them.

If you’re «better» without Steve, it would imply that you yourself have improved somehow. Like, perhaps being around Steve made you a less patient person, or made you physically ill. And now, with Steve gone, you are better to others, or are capable of doing more than you could before.

The key here is that «better» does not mean «happier». It means having a functional superiority in some aspect. That is, it is a change within the person (or object) which is «better». Benefits from being «better» could easily apply to people around said person, rather than the person who is «better».

When adding «off» the meaning changes to having a functional benefit for the person who is «better off». The person is unchanged, however (Save, perhaps, for being made happier).

Every language has words that look and sound the same but mean different things. Russian is no exception: many Russian words have two or even more different meanings.

Click to enlarge the image. Drawing by Niyaz Karim

The most frequently cited examples of homonyms in the
Russian language are the words kosa (коса) and klyuch (ключ)

The word kosa means a braid and also, in another
meaning, a scythe. Hence the comic play on words in the expression devushka
s kosoi (девушка с косой), which can mean both a young woman with braided
hair and the Grim Reaper. In addition, kosa also means a spit of land
sticking out into the sea.

Klyuch means a key that you
use to open and close the door but also a key to a cipher (klyuch ot shifra,
ключ от шифра), a clue, and a clef (e.g. a skripichny klyuch (скрипичный
ключ) is a treble clef). It also forms part of the Russian word for a spanner, gayechny klyuch (гаечный
ключ).

The adjective klyuchevoi (ключевой) is used in the same sense as
the English ‘key’ in key element, key player, key moment, etc. In a separate
meaning, a klyuch is also a spring, a source of clean, fresh, cool
water.

The word mat (мат) has three completely different
meanings. First, it is the chess term checkmate. Second, a mat, especially a
gym mat (gimnastichesky mat, гимнастический мат). Third, and most commonly
these days, it is foul language, swear words.

Under a new Russian law that came into effect on July 1, the
use of foul language is banned on television, in films, books, in the media, as
well as in the theater and other public performances. The boundaries of what
constitutes foul language are quite blurred (some words are considered more
acceptable than others).

The debate of what should fall under «the
banned» foul language has been going on for a long time. At present,
experts have concluded that the ban should cover four basic roots (rude names
for male and female genitals, sexual intercourse and a prostitute) and all of
their derivatives.

The word klass (класс) in Russian has approximately
the same wealth of meanings as «class» in English. In a school or
university, it means a classroom and a group of students who study together, as
well as the entire cohort of students in a particular grade.

In another sense,
it means a level of quality, as in first-class, second-class, third-class. In
yet another meaning, a class is a division of people in society according to
their social status, e.g. working class, middle class.

The word post (пост) has until recently been used in
two senses: the place where a soldier, guard or other person has been told to
remain (as in guard post, storozhevoi post (сторожевой пост), which
later evolved into meaning a position in a company or organization, usually one
that involves responsibility.

The other meaning of the word is religious: a
fast (the derivative verb is postitsya (поститься). In recent years, the
word post has developed a new meaning that is to do with the advent of
blogs and social network sites. It has even created a new verb, zapostit
(запостить), meaning to post something on the internet.

Another word that has acquired an additional meaning as a
result of borrowing from English is luk (лук). Traditionally, luk
had two distinct meanings in Russian: an onion and a bow (as in a bow and arrows).
Recently, in youth slang it has begun to be used in the sense of a person’s
looks.

The word val (вал) has even more meanings. It can
mean an earthen wall, hence the names of some old streets in Moscow, e.g. Zemlyanoi
Val (Земляной вал) or Koroviy Val (Коровий вал). At sea, a val is a big
wave (e.g. a famous painting by great Russian seascape artist Ivan Aivazovsky
is called Devyatiy Val (“Девятый вал»).

It also means a shaft, as
in a drive shaft. Finally, in economics, it means the gross output of a
company, an industry or a country as whole. 

Read more: The 10 most well-known Russian words>>>

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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With new words being added to the dictionary on an annual basis, the English language is always evolving. And in addition to the new words that are added every year, there are also new definitions that get tacked on to previous entries based on the way word usage changes. For instance, while the word bully today describes someone with a mean spirit, it actually used to mean something much sweeter. And while you can use the word girl to clearly describe a young female these days, that wasn’t always the case. To update your language knowledge, we’ve rounded up the everyday words that once meant something else. And for more tidbits about the English language, check out the 20 Words You Won’t Believe Are in the Dictionary Now.

Nowadays, if you say something is awful, you’re not being kind. However, in the past, it was actually a term that people used to praise things, seeing as it literally meant that someone or something was «worthy of awe.» As awful became more negative, the word awesome largely replaced it in terms of its original meaning.

Centuries ago, the term cheater was used to describe the royal officers who looked after the king’s escheats, or the land he acquired when someone died without a legal heir. However, because of the shady ways these officers went about their jobs, the word «cheater» eventually became synonymous with someone who lies, tricks, and defrauds—and this is how we define the word today. And for more terms that have changed, check out the 60 Words People Pronounce Differently Across America.

In the 1300s, people who were naughty had naught, or «nothing.» In other words, they were poor. But nowadays, the word is used to describe someone not as poor, but as evil or improper.

The original meaning of nice used to be, well, not so nice. The adjective actually comes from the Latin word «nescius,» meaning «unaware» or «ignorant.» When it was picked up by the English language in the early 1300s, it described a «stupid, ignorant, or foolish» person. Ouch!

Flirting with someone in today’s sense is what most people would consider to be flattering. If you were to flirt with someone based on the word’s original meaning, then what you’d be doing is less sweet and more savage. In the 1500s, this term was actually used to describe a quick motion or jerk—something like a flick. And for more word facts, check out 5 Words to Ditch From Your Vocabulary ASAP, Experts Say.

When someone describes something as egregious, they are trying to say that it stands out—and not in a good way. But when it was first coined, the word actually meant the exact opposite. According to Merriam-Webster, the adjective was once used as a compliment to describe someone «who had a remarkably good quality that placed him or her eminently above others.»

No one wants to be called a bully—unless you’re using its original meaning, that is. In the archaic sense, bully means «sweetheart,» as it was derived from the Dutch word for lover.

The word silly has seen quite a few definitions throughout history. Derived from Old English, the adjective has been used over the years to mean everything from «happy» and «fortunate» to «innocent.» Eventually, though, the word somehow became synonymous with ignorance, thus bringing us to its current meaning of «foolish.» And for more silly words, check out The 30 Funniest Words in the English Language—And How to Use Them.

When something today is described as artificial, it’s usually a far cry from what’s considered to be a masterful creation. However, that’s exactly what the adjective used to refer to. If something was artificial back in the day, it was artfully or skillfully constructed.

Being called brave is quite the praise by today’s standards. But the word’s original definition—which is «showy» or «gaudy»—is much less complimentary. And for more etymology lessons, check out 50 Words You Hear Every Day But Don’t Know What They Mean.

There are a lot of things that can make someone nervous nowadays: job interviews, talking to someone they’re attracted to, public speaking… the list goes on and on. In the 1600s, however, nervous in this context wouldn’t make sense, seeing as it was originally used to described someone who possessed great strength.

Fantastic is an adjective used to describe something that is extraordinarily good. But seeing as it was derived from the Latin word phantasticus—meaning «imaginary»—this word was originally used to describe something that only exists in the imagination. So, technically, a unicorn would be fantastic in either sense of the word!

A young female is typically referred to as a girl today. When the word was first used in the Middle Ages, however, it referred to any young person, regardless of their gender.

Guy, man, dude, fellow—they’re all monikers used to refer to the male species. But you wouldn’t want to just throw the word guy around a few centuries ago; in the 1800s, it was used to describe a person of grotesque appearance.

If someone were to give you a clue today, they would be giving you a hint about something. But when the word was first coined, someone who was giving out clues was actually giving out something more tangible: balls of yarn.

Today, fathom is just another word for «understand.» But way back when, it was used for measurement purposes and described the length of someone’s outstretched arms (about six feet!). Can you fathom that?

Manufactured, when used in its original sense, describes something that has been produced by hand. On the contrary, today people generally describe something as manufactured when it has been mass-produced in a factory by machinery.

If you’re a stylish, neatly groomed man, someone today might call you a Dapper Dan. However, if you were to use the word according to its original meaning, then this wouldn’t make sense. Seeing as it’s derived from the German word tapfer for «brave,» dapper was originally used to describe someone as bold and daring—not in their fashion choices, but in their endeavors and undertakings.

If you’re a passenger, you’re just someone who’s along for the ride. But the original meaning of the word passenger is someone who is traveling, fleeting, or just passing by, typically by foot.

The term pretty is derived from various words in other languages that meant «cunning,» «tricky,» and «skillful»—and therefore, it makes sense that the adjective was originally used to describe a sly person. But nowadays, it’s used to positively describe someone’s appearance rather than their deceitfulness.

Radical is an adjective used to describe anything extreme that shakes up the fundamental nature of something, and it’s typically employed in regards to social or political activism. However, the word actually comes from the Latin word for «rooted,» and it was once used to describe the opposite of extreme: something rooted, basic, and fundamental.

It’s no fun being sad or unhappy. But it wouldn’t have been such a bad thing a long time ago. In Old English, to be sad meant to be satisfied or content, usually in regards to feeling full from a meal.

It’s a good thing to have success nowadays. But in earlier times, it could go either way, seeing as success originally described both positive and negative outcomes alike.

You know a villain as any evil person, typically in a movie, novel, or play. But in Old English, this word simply referred to anybody who worked on a country estate, such as a farm laborer.

The original meaning of the word terrible is similar to its definition today, only way more extreme. When you described something as terrible back in the day, it meant that it caused genuine fits of terror; today, people use it to describe anything that’s mildly bad—even a terrible movie. And for more words you should probably stop using, Cut These 20 Negative Words from Your Life and Be Instantly Happier.

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Пословицы и поговорки – это отражение народной мысли, установок, моральных ценностей. Обычно они имеют аналоги в других языках, поскольку воспроизводят “простые истины”, свойственные любому человеку каждой нации. Пословица может иметь другие образы, но будет доносить тот же смысл:

⠀
Но есть высказывания, которые вообще не имеют эквивалента в русском языке. Такие пословицы в наибольшей степени отражают отличия менталитета, поэтому составляют для нас особый интерес.

Кстати, сегодня мы узнаем не только смысл этих английских пословиц, но и связанные с ними занимательные истории.

Обрати внимание: если вдруг ты не согласен с описанным примером и точно знаешь русский аналог, то обязательно пиши об этом в комментариях – подискутируем! 🙂

Уникальное наследие: пословицы на английском языке с переводом

1. If you can’t be good, be careful.

Дословный перевод: Если не можешь быть хорошим, будь осторожен.

Если ты собираешься делать безнравственные вещи, убедись, что они не опасны для тебя или общества. Когда ты планируешь сделать что-то аморальное, удостоверься, что об этом никто не узнает.

Первое упоминание именно этой формулировки датируется 1903-м годом, но смысл выражения намного старше и берет свое начало из латинской пословицы “Si non caste, tamen caute” (если не целомудренно, то по крайней мере осторожно).

2. A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men.

Дословный перевод: Один доброволец стоит двадцати принужденных.

Значение пословицы по сути прямое: даже маленькая группа людей может быть полезнее, если у нее есть энтузиазм, стремление и т.д. Зародилась эта пословица в начале 18-го века.

В то время Королевский флот имел группу матросов, вооруженных дубинками, чья цель была “насобирать” моряков на флот. Они могли делать это, рассказывая о небывалых преимуществах службы, или же просто силой (все же вооружены дубинками они были неспроста).

Такое стечение обстоятельств не делало принужденного хорошим моряком. Отсюда и “вытекло” это умозаключение.

Заметь, что в этой пословице можно менять соотношение цифр:

100 volunteers are worth 200 press’d men.

One volunteer is worth two pressed men

и т.д.

3. Suffering for a friend doubleth friendship.

Дословный перевод: Страдание за друга удваивает дружбу.

Значение этой шотландской пословицы понятно без особых объяснений. Казалось бы, в русском языке есть довольно похожая пословица “друг познается в беде”. При этом очень интересен сам смысл “страдания за друга”. Если в русском варианте говорится о том, чтобы не отвернуться от друга и помочь ему в трудной ситуации, то здесь именно страдать вместе с ним, тем самым усиливая дружбу.

Еще одна интересная с точки зрения образов английская пословица о дружбе: Friends are made in wine and proven in tears (дружба рождается в вине, а проверяется в слезах).

Также читайте: Какой он — живой английский язык?

4. A woman’s work is never done.

Дословный перевод: Женский труд никогда не заканчивается.

Ну вот и о нашей нелегкой женской доле английские пословицы позаботились 🙂 Выражение пошло от старинного двустишия:

Man may work from sun to sun,
But woman’s work is never done.

Получается, значение пословицы в том, что женские дела (в отличие от мужских) длятся бесконечно. Видно это из примера:

“A woman’s work is never done!”, said Leila. She added: “As soon as I finish washing the breakfast dishes, it’s time to start preparing lunch. Then I have to go shopping and when the kids are back home I have to help them with their homework.”

(“Женский труд никогда не заканчивается!”, – Сказала Лейла. Она добавила: “Как только я заканчиваю мыть посуду после завтрака, приходит время готовить обед. Потом я должна идти по магазинам и, когда дети возвращаются домой, я должна помогать им с домашним заданием”.)

5. Comparisons are odious / odorous.

Дословный перевод: Сравнения отвратительны / воняют.

Люди должны оцениваться по их собственным заслугам, не стоит кого-либо или что-либо сравнивать между собой.

Два варианта пословица имеет не просто так. Первый вариант (Comparisons are odious) очень древний, и впервые он был запечатлен еще в 1440 году. А вот измененный вариант (Comparisons are odorous) был “создан” Шекспиром и использован им в пьесе “Много шума из ничего”.

6. Money talks.

Дословный перевод: Деньги говорят (сами за себя).

Значение – деньги решают все. Происхождение выражения является предметом споров среди лингвистов. Одни считают, что пословица зародилась в Америке 19-го века, другие – что в средневековой Англии.

Кстати, пословица использована в названии песни австралийской рок-группы AC/DC.

7. Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.

Дословный перевод: Не держи собаку, если лаешь сам.

Значение этой английском пословицы: не работай за своего подчиненного. Высказывание очень древнее: первое упоминание зафиксировано еще в 1583 году.

По поводу отсутствия аналога: в разных источниках дана разная информация. Кто-то согласен с тем, что аналогов в русском языке нет, другие в качестве эквивалента предлагают пословицу:

За то собаку кормят, что она лает.

Однако, в Большом словаре русских пословиц такой пословицы о собаке нет вообще. Возможно, то что предлагают нам в качестве альтернативы, это адаптированный перевод именно английской пословицы (такое бывает).

8. Every man has his price.

Дословный перевод: У каждого есть своя цена.

Согласно этой пословице, подкупить можно любого, главное предложить достаточную цену. Наблюдение впервые зафиксировано в 1734 году, но, скорее всего, имеет и более давнюю историю.

Также читайте: История Англии: список лучших документальных фильмов

9. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Дословный перевод: Подражание – самая искренняя форма лести.

Значение пословицы прямое. Эта формулировка восходит к началу 19-го века. Но сама мысль еще древнее и встречалась в текстах 18-го века, например, в 1714 году у журналиста Юстаса Баджелла:

Imitation is a kind of artless Flattery (Имитация является своего рода бесхитростной лестью).

10. It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Дословный перевод: Лучше зажечь свечу, чем проклинать темноту.

Вопрос об аналоге снова спорен: в некоторых источниках, где даны английские пословицы с переводом на русский, эквивалентом называют:

Лучше пойти и плюнуть, чем плюнуть и не пойти.

Хочу с этим поспорить. Значение русской пословицы: лучше сделать, чем жалеть, что не сделал. Смысл английской – лучше исправить положение, чем жаловаться на него. Лично мне смысловая составляющая про жалобы кажется первостепенной, поэтому приравнивать эти пословицы я бы не стала.

11. Stupid is as stupid does

Дословный перевод: Глуп тот, кто глупо поступает.

На самом деле это не совсем “народная пословица”, а фраза, которой Форест Гамп отбивался от назойливых вопросов о своем интеллекте:

Фраза ушла в народ 🙂 Прародитель этого выражения – пословица “Handsome is as handsome does” (красив тот, кто красиво поступает), уже имеющая аналог в русском языке: “Не тот хорош, кто лицом пригож, а тот хорош, кто для дела гож”.

Также читайте: Игра престолов с Lingualeo, или Hear me roar

12. You can’t make bricks without straw

Дословный перевод: Нельзя сделать кирпич без соломы.

Опять же в некоторых источниках в качестве аналога указывается русское “без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда”. При этом английская пословица говорит не о трудолюбии, а о невозможности выполнить задачу без необходимых материалов.

“It’s no good trying to build a website if you don’t know any html, you can’t make bricks without straw.” (Не пытайся создать веб-сайт, если ты не знаешь HTML: ты не можешь делать кирпичи без соломы).

Согласно википедии выражение берет начало из библейского сюжета, когда Фараон в наказание запрещает давать израильтянам солому, но приказывает делать то же количество кирпичей, как и раньше.

Где искать пословицы и поговорки на английском языке по темам?

Возможно, это не все высказывания, не имеющие русских аналогов, ведь английских пословиц (и их значений) огромное множество. Кстати, ты вполне можешь поискать их самостоятельно в нашей Библиотеке материалов по запросу “proverb”, чтобы насытить свою английскую речь чудесными выражениями. Успехов! 🙂