Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
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word–perfect (adjective)
Is perfect an adjective or adverb?
[ adjective, noun pur-fikt; verb per-fekt ] SHOW IPA. / adjective, noun ˈpɜr fɪkt; verb pərˈfɛkt / PHONETIC RESPELLING. See synonyms for: perfect / perfected / perfecting / perfectness on Thesaurus.com.
Is perfect a noun or adjective?
(Note, though, the pronunciation difference: PER-fect as a noun; per-FECT as a verb.) It originally comes from the Latin word perficere, which breaks down into per- («completely») and facere («do»). As a noun perfect is a grammatical term referring to a tense of verbs describing an action that has been completed.
Is perfection a adjective?
Included below are past participle and present participle forms for the verbs perfect, perfection and perfectionate which may be used as adjectives within certain contexts. Fitting its definition precisely. Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
What is the adjective of perfect?
adjective. adjective. /ˈpərfɪkt/ 1having everything that is necessary; complete and without faults or weaknesses in perfect condition a perfect set of teeth Well I’m sorry—but nobody’s perfect (= used when someone has criticized you).
41 related questions found
What are adjectives give 10 examples?
Examples of adjectives
- They live in a beautiful house.
- Lisa is wearing a sleeveless shirt today. This soup is not edible.
- She wore a beautiful dress.
- He writes meaningless letters.
- This shop is much nicer.
- She wore a beautiful dress.
- Ben is an adorable baby.
- Linda’s hair is gorgeous.
What word class is perfect?
As detailed above, ‘perfect’ can be an adjective or a verb. Adjective usage: a perfect circle. Adjective usage: That bucket with the hole in the bottom is a poor bucket, but it is perfect for watering plants. Adjective usage: Practice makes perfect.
What is the verb for perfect?
perfected; perfecting; perfects. Definition of perfect (Entry 2 of 3) transitive verb. 1 : to bring to final form. 2 : to make perfect : improve, refine.
Is perfection a noun or a verb?
PERFECTION (noun) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary.
What is this word perfection?
Perfection is a flawless state where everything is exactly right. It can also be the action of making something perfect. Since perfect things are without fault or flaw, perfection is a perfect condition — everything is 100% great.
What is the adverb of perfect?
With perfection. Wholly, completely, totally.
What is the noun form of perfect?
Perfection is the noun form of perfect.
What is the noun of automatic?
automaticity ˌȯ-tə-mə-ˈti-sə-tē , -ma- noun.
Is perfect an adverb?
perfectly adverb (RIGHT)
Is automatically an adjective?
automatically adverb (CERTAINLY)
Is perfect verb or adverb?
perfect (verb) perfect (noun) perfect game (noun)
Is Perfectional a word?
Of or relating to perfection; characterized by perfection.
Is sublimity a word?
The noun sublimity describes a characteristic that’s a little hard to pin down. When something is sublime, it transcends greatness or beauty for the observer — like a deeply moving film or a transcendent piece of music.
What is the verb of had?
had verb (HAVE)
past simple and past participle of have , also used with the past participle of other verbs to form the past perfect: When I was a child I had a dog.
What is present perfect tense and example?
The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that either occurred at an indefinite time in the past (e.g., we have talked before) or began in the past and continued to the present time (e.g., he has grown impatient over the last hour). This tense is formed by have/has + the past participle.
What are the verb tenses?
Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, and future.
What is the opposite of perfect?
Imperfect is the opposite of perfect. Imperfect comes from the Latin word imperfectus, meaning “incomplete.» If you have an imperfect knowledge of French, you might be able to order a coffee in Paris but not chat with the waiter. Something imperfect is unfinished or damaged in some way.
How do you use the word perfect?
Perfect sentence example
- I think you’re the most perfect person I’ve ever met. …
- It was the perfect opportunity to test her theory. …
- You’re my most perfect friend in the entire world. …
- There was perfect stillness. …
- This was the most perfect place in the world.
Is perfection a superlative?
Usage notes. Some authorities proscribe the comparative and superlative forms «more perfect» and «most perfect», on the grounds that perfection is an absolute state. … In these cases, «more perfect» can mean «closer to perfection», «less imperfect» or «improving upon an already perfect state».
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[ adjective, noun pur-fikt; verb per-fekt ]
/ adjective, noun ˈpɜr fɪkt; verb pərˈfɛkt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere;a perfect gentleman.
excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code.The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.
exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber;a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.
entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple;the perfect crime.
accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.
pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.
unmitigated; out-and-out; of an extreme degree: He made a perfect fool of himself.
Botany.
- having all parts or members present.
- monoclinous.
Grammar.
- noting an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action.
- designating a tense or other verb formation or construction with such meaning.
Music.
- of or noting the consonances of unison, octave, and fifth, as distinguished from those of the third and sixth. Compare imperfect (def. 6).
- of or noting the intervals, harmonic or melodic, of an octave, fifth, and fourth in their normal form, as opposed to augmented and diminished.
Mathematics. (of a set) equal to its set of accumulation points.
Obsolete. assured or certain.
noun Grammar.
verb (used with object)
to bring to completion; finish.
to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless: He has succeeded in perfecting his recipe for chicken Kiev.
to bring nearer to perfection; improve; make better: She works hard to perfect her writing.
to make fully skilled.
Printing. to print the reverse of (a printed sheet).
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Origin of perfect
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere “to finish, bring to completion” (per-per- + -fec-, combining form of facere “to make, do” (see do1) + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English parfit, from Old French, from Latin as above
usage note for perfect
A few usage guides still object to the use of comparison words such as more, most, nearly, almost, and rather with perfect on the grounds that perfect describes an absolute, yes-or-no condition that cannot logically be said to exist in varying degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation. Since its earliest use in the 13th century, perfect has, like almost all adjectives, been compared, first in the now obsolete forms perfecter and perfectest, and more recently with more, most, and similar comparison words: the most perfect arrangement of color and line imaginable. Perfect is compared in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing. After all, one of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was “to form a more perfect union.” See also complete, unique.
OTHER WORDS FROM perfect
per·fect·ed·ly, adverbper·fect·er, nounper·fect·ness, nounnon·per·fect·ed, adjective
quasi-perfect, adjectivequa·si-per·fect·ly, adverbself-per·fect·ing, adjectivesu·per·per·fect, adjectivesu·per·per·fect·ly, adverbun·per·fect, adjectiveun·per·fect·ed, adjective
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perfect
perfect , prefect
Words nearby perfect
Perez Esquivel, Pérez Galdós, Perez-Reverte, perf., perfboard, perfect, perfecta, perfect binding, perfect cadence, perfect competition, perfect continuous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say perfect?
Something that is perfect conforms to an ideal or is entirely without flaws, defects, or shortcomings. How does perfect compare to synonyms entire, intact, and complete? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Words related to perfect
excellent, foolproof, ideal, impeccable, pure, splendid, superb, flawless, full, simple, appropriate, exact, precise, proper, suitable, true, accomplish, carry out, cultivate, develop
How to use perfect in a sentence
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However, many other hospitals in other parts of Virginia, including the 11 Sentara hospital group hospitals, received perfect 100 percent scores, the report shows.
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Seven years after its founding, Snowflake had perfected an amazing new way to run databases on cloud servers, but it was struggling to attract enough big corporate customers.
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So, having that public accountability, about what they think — and no one’s gonna be perfect on it — helps a lot.
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Oddly enough, it’s a perfect time to offer this, and I think it answers a demand, which is beauty brands by women of color.
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Big Pharma is far from perfect—for example, there may be outlier companies that have charged rapacious prices on drugs.
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Estee Lauder has not crumbled to dust because the perfect brown face of Joan Smalls represents it.
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The Perfect Storm writer talks combat brotherhood and the threat posed by growing wealth inequality.
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So perfect that we wonder if we should risk ruining it by asking for yet another take.
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The Oscar-winning actress put nude photo thieves in their place with one perfect statement.
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In our headlong quest for a legally perfect society, we don’t take the time to take stock of what‘s been created so far.
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The afternoon was a lovely one—the day was a perfect example of the mellowest mood of autumn.
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In the most perfect stillness, we arrived within two hundred paces of the enemy’s camp.
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But if the Bible was written by men, some of them more or less inspired, then it would not, in all probability be wholly perfect.
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Even genius, however, needs direction and adjustment to secure the most perfect and reliable results.
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We stood staring after the fugitives in perfect bewilderment, totally unable to explain their apparently causeless panic.
British Dictionary definitions for perfect
adjective (ˈpɜːfɪkt)
having all essential elements
unblemished; faultlessa perfect gemstone
correct or preciseperfect timing
utter or absolutea perfect stranger
excellent in all respectsa perfect day
maths exactly divisible into equal integral or polynomial roots36 is a perfect square
botany
- (of flowers) having functional stamens and pistils
- (of plants) having all parts present
grammar denoting a tense of verbs used in describing an action that has been completed by the subject. In English this is a compound tense, formed with have or has plus the past participle
music
- of or relating to the intervals of the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave
- Also: full, final (of a cadence) ending on the tonic chord, giving a feeling of conclusionCompare imperfect (def. 6)
archaic positive certain, or assured
noun (ˈpɜːfɪkt)
grammar
- the perfect tense
- a verb in this tense
verb (pəˈfɛkt) (tr)
to make perfect; improve to one’s satisfactionhe is in Paris to perfect his French
to make fully accomplished
printing to print the reverse side of (a printed sheet of paper)
Derived forms of perfect
perfectness, noun
Word Origin for perfect
C13: from Latin perfectus, from perficere to perform, from per through + facere to do
usage for perfect
For most of its meanings, the adjective perfect describes an absolute state, i.e. one that cannot be qualified; thus something is either perfect or not perfect, and cannot be more perfect or less perfect. However when perfect means excellent in all respects, a comparative can be used with it without absurdity: the next day the weather was even more perfect
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Recent Examples on the Web
Ideal for smaller spaces, this device comes with a USB charging cable and a cleaning brush and there’s even a hanging loop—perfect for hanging it up in the middle of a tent.
—
Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2023
There are several storage solutions for small items, including ledges on the front-door panels that are perfect for smartphones.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 28 Mar. 2023
Jumbo muffin pans are great for making single-serving portions or storing leftovers, while mini muffins are perfect for kids.
—Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2023
While Coach is considered a luxury brand, these deals are perfect for those of us who love to own pretty things without having to overpay.
—Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 28 Mar. 2023
Google has been pretty open about the fact that Bard isn’t perfect.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2023
The detachable pearl strap and pop of sequins elevate the look for specialty restaurant dining, and the playful aesthetic is also perfect for hitting the nightclub afterwards.
—Jill Schildhouse, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2023
While Shell had not been perfect, Ogbari and other villagers said the company had conducted annual inspections and maintenance on its infrastructure, including the well closest to their village.
—Rachel Chason, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2023
For one, many social engineering emails aren’t designed to be perfect (grammatically or otherwise).
—Ryan Kalember, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Russell’s cropped wool crepe jacket with sharp shoulders and a champagne boned corset reportedly took five fittings and more than 150 hours to perfect at the Schiaparelli atelier and quickly captivated the fashion world.
—Carol Mccolgin, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2023
Grab a 2-Piece Nonstick Frying Pan set to perfect a new omelet recipe, or perhaps a 2-Piece Knife Set is just what your kitchen needs.
—Erin Johnson, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
That’s exactly what Lancôme did to perfect its new dark spot-fading, skin tone-evening, brightness-boosting serum, Clarifique Refining Brightening Pro-Solution, made with ingredients like niacinamide, PHAs, and glycerin.
—Lisa Desantis, Allure, 23 Mar. 2023
Rolls-Royce says that the Black Arrow’s snazzy gradient paint finish—with the Celebration Silver front end blending into the Black Diamond rear—took 18 months to perfect.
—Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 21 Mar. 2023
Lidwave’s Vidal said that is exactly what his company, formed in 2019 and hoping to begin commercial deliveries in 2024, is working to perfect.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023
But even as manufacturers rush to perfect the software, recent headlines about crashes involving self-driving vehicles may give potential riders, and certain lawmakers, pause.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2023
Scientists are racing to perfect new battery chemistries that don’t lose as much energy in cold weather as today’s lithium-ion systems.
—Tom Krisher And Mark Thiessen, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Mar. 2023
Scientists are racing to perfect new battery chemistries that don’t lose as much energy in cold weather as today’s lithium-ion systems.
—Tom Krisher And Mark Thiessen, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2023
Progressives tore themselves apart in a constant struggle that repeatedly pitted the perfect against the merely good.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 9 Jan. 2023
Ewers was the nation’s top high school prospect heading into the 2021 season, with a rare perfect ranking from 247Sports — just like Manning and former Texas standout Vince Young.
—Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2022
The temps at local-favorite climbing spots like Moe’s Valley and Black Rocks are chef’s-kiss perfect now, and crowds are nonexistent.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Men’s Health, 30 Nov. 2022
But Monday is a perfect for the Blazers to start changing that perception.
—oregonlive, 24 Oct. 2022
In other words, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good—every bit of progress helps.
—Jeff Wilser, Time, 13 Oct. 2022
The building has a large, exposed wall that is a perfect for a mural, Barbara Cash said.
—Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Aug. 2022
Thanks to the three-stage H13 HEPA filtration system, the air purifier easily traps up to 99.97 perfect of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pet dander, odors, smoke, dust, and mold.
—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022
After a number of fizzled chances, Portland finally broke through in the 38th minute on a perfect through ball from left to right by Blanco to a streaking Chara, who finished strong after a soft touch.
—oregonlive, 18 June 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘perfect.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjectives and adverbs can get confusing. Even native speakers have a hard time differentiating them sometimes, so don’t worry if you’re a bit stumped. This article will explain the differences between “perfect” and “perfectly.”
What Is The Difference Between “Perfect” and “Perfectly”?
“Perfect” is an adjective used to modify nouns. It is possible to hear it in phrases like “you are perfect,” where “you” is the modified noun. “Perfectly” is an adverb used to modify verbs. In this case, something like “it works perfectly” is correct because “work” is the modified verb.
It’s possible to hear “perfect” used interchangeably with “perfectly” when you are listening to native speakers talk. This is because spoken English doesn’t have as strict rules as written English, so the standard methods can be overlooked.
You might hear a native say either of the following:
- That worked perfectly.
- That worked perfect.
However, “Perfect” should not be used here as “worked” is a verb and not an adjective.
We do not encourage you to follow the trend of dropping adverbs just because you’re speaking to someone informally, though. It’s always best to practice proper grammar and English, meaning that “perfectly” should be best when referring to a verb or action.
How to Use “Perfect” In A Sentence
- You are perfect just the way you are. Please don’t feel like you ever need to change yourself for someone else.
- You’re not perfect yet, but you’re not a long way off! Keep working towards it, and you’ll be fine.
- This is the perfect example of how you can get adjectives right. It’s easy to see how perfect things can be.
- Stop being so perfect, please. I’m sick of having to live in your shadow all the time! I can’t keep up.
- Is this the perfect date? I feel like I hit the nail on the head when I was putting this one together.
“Perfect” is only correct as the adjective form when following standard English rules. We can use it after a pronoun (“you are perfect”) or before an object (“perfect answer”). In either case, “perfect” is the only form that works to modify them.
How to Use “Perfectly” In A Sentence
- You did this perfectly, just like I knew you would. I always know I can count on you with this stuff.
- I thought he completed it perfectly, but I guess that’s open for interpretation.
- It was done perfectly, and I don’t see a reason for it to be done again. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
- This was not handled perfectly, and I’ll be the first to admit that. Next time, I’ll get it right.
- It was working perfectly just a second ago! You must have done something to affect it because I didn’t touch it!
“Perfectly” is the adverb form. We use this whenever we are modifying a verb. It’s possible for the verb to come before (“worked perfectly”) or after (“perfectly designed”). The position of the verb is mainly based on personal preference or contextual tone.
Is It “Works Perfect” or “Works Perfectly”?
“Works perfectly” is the only correct form to use here. “Works” is the modified verb, which means that the adverb form (“perfectly”) is the only acceptable choice. “Works perfect” is a common mistake, but it’s not one that we encourage you to make.
- Correct: It works perfectly, thank you very much.
- Incorrect: I knew it works perfect. I just had to prove it.
Is It “More Perfect” or “More Perfectly”?
“More perfect” and “more perfectly” are both correct. You can use “more perfect” as a comparative adjective form, meaning a noun is still being modified. “More perfectly” is a comparative adverb form, which only works when modifying a verb.
- You look more perfect than the day I laid eyes on you. (Noun = “you”)
- You did that more perfectly than the first time I met you. (Verb = “did”)
As a side note, “more perfect” and “more perfectly” are rarely used in English. Even when they are used, they’re reserved for informal speaking only.
“Perfect” is supposed to be the highest possible degree of something, meaning it’s impossible to make something “more” perfect. That’s why neither of these forms is common, as they are redundant.
What Word Type is “Perfectly”?
“Perfectly” is an adverb. It is an extension of the root adjective form “perfect,” where the “-ly” suffix is added to show that a verb can be modified. It is used whenever we want to show that someone performed an action in a “perfect” manner.
Is It Right To Say “Perfectly”?
While we can use some adverbs as a one-word reply to someone, it is not correct to use “perfectly” in these situations. You would have to be prompted with the correct verb to use this one well, but there are always better one-word alternatives over “perfectly.”
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Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
совершенствовать, идеальный, совершенный, перфект
глагол ↓
- совершенствовать, улучшать
to perfect an invention [plan] — улучшать изобретение [план] 
- совершенствоваться
to perfect oneself in some art — совершенствоваться в каком-л. искусстве
- завершать, заканчивать, выполнять
the plan was perfected in April — план был закончен в апреле
- полигр. печатать на оборотной стороне листа
прилагательное ↓
- совершенный, безупречный, идеальный, прекрасный
perfect beauty — совершенная красота
perfect actress — замечательная актриса
perfect person — идеальный человек
perfect specimen — прекрасный образчик
a perfect place for our picnic — идеальное место для нашего пикника
to be perfect in everything — быть во всём безупречным /совершенным/
it’s perfect! — разг. это изумительно!
- полный
he is a perfect stranger to me — я его совершенно не знаю
perfect silence — полная тишина
perfect cleavage — мин. совершенная спайность
perfect combustion — тех. полное сгорание
perfect fourth [fifth, octave] — муз. чистая кварта [квинта, октава]
perfect cadence — муз. совершенный каданс
- точный
perfect reproduction [imitation] — точное воспроизведение [подражание]
perfect copy — точная копия
- чистый, без примесей
perfect yellow — чистый жёлтый цвет
- законченный, полный, абсолютный
perfect bliss — полное /абсолютное/ блаженство
- хорошо подготовленный, достигший совершенства (в какой-л. области)
to have a perfect knowledge of smth. — знать что-л. в совершенстве
to have one’s lessons perfect — прекрасно выучить урок
perfect mastery — высшее мастерство
- разг. приятный, чудесный
a perfect day! — а) чудный день!; б) прекрасно проведённый день!
- эмоц.-усил. совершенный, настоящий
in perfect sincerity — совершенно откровенно, с полной откровенностью
perfect idiot /fool/ — форменный дурак
perfect nonsense — абсолютная чепуха
she is a perfect fright — она настоящая уродина
- полигр. бесшвейный (о переплёте)
perfect binding — бесшвейное скрепление (листов)
- грам. перфектный
perfect form — совершенная форма
существительное
- грам. перфект
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
Примеры с переводом
I felt a perfect idiot.
Я чувствовал себя полным идиотом.
Practice makes perfect.
Повторение — мать учения. (пословица)
His English was perfect.
Он безупречно говорил по-английски.
He is a perfect dear.
Он просто душка.
They’re a perfect match.
Они идеальная пара. / Они идеально подходят друг другу.
A perfect babel!
Сущая неразбериха!
What a perfect Hebe!
Какое прелестное создание!
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
The building has perfect symmetry. 
The dancers executed perfect twirls.
The quarterback made a perfect throw.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
imperfect — несовершенный, неполный, дефектный, имперфект
perfectible — способный к совершенствованию
perfection — совершенство, совершенствование, безупречность, завершение, верх, законченность
perfectly — отлично, совершенно, вполне, в совершенстве
perfective — совершенный
perfecting — совершенствование, завершение
Формы слова
verb
I/you/we/they: perfect
he/she/it: perfects
ing ф. (present participle): perfecting
2-я ф. (past tense): perfected
3-я ф. (past participle): perfected