most
1 Americanadjective
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in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number.
to win the most votes.
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in the majority of instances.
Most operations are successful.
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greatest, as in size or extent.
the most talent.
noun
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the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost.
The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
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the greatest number or the majority of a class specified.
Most of his writing is rubbish.
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the greatest number.
The most this room will seat is 150.
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the majority of persons.
to be more sensitive than most.
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Slang. the most, the ultimate in something.
He's the most. That movie was the most.
adverb
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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.
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a most puzzling case.
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Informal. almost or nearly.
idioms
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make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully.
to make the most of an opportunity.
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for the most part. part.
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at the most, at the maximum. Also at most.
determiner
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a great majority of; nearly all
most people like eggs
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( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )
most of them don't know
most of it is finished
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at the maximum
that girl is four at the most
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generally
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to use to the best advantage
she makes the most of her accent
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than most others
the leaves are greener than most
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slang wonderful
that chick's the most
adverb
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used to form the superlative of some adjectives and adverbs
the most beautiful daughter of all
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the superlative of much
people welcome a drink most after work
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(intensifier)
a most absurd story
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informal almost
most every town in this state
John is the more intelligent of the two
he is the most intelligent of the students
suffix
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
Related Words
See almost.
Etymology
Origin of most1
First recorded before 900; Middle English most(e), Old English māst; replacing Middle English mest(e), Old English mǣst; 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 prīmus ) + -est 1; later identified with most
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for the most part, the relievers who are healthy have shown glimpses of what it could look like this season.
From Los Angeles Times
For Rakshya Bam, one of Nepal's most prominent Gen Z leaders, these particular changes are small hints the party is willing to change.
From BBC
"He was the most humble egomaniac you could ever meet!"
From BBC
Middle Eastern economies will likely suffer the most damage.
Newcastle have let in a whopping 23 goals since they kept their most recent clean sheet in a 3-0 win against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
