AT BEST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does at best mean? 

• AT BEST (adverb)
  The adverb AT BEST has 1 sense:

1. under the best of conditions

  Familiarity information: AT BEST used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AT BEST (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Under the best of conditions

Synonyms:

at best; at the best

Context example:

at best we'll lose only the money

Antonym:

at worst (under the worst of conditions)

 Context examples 

This investiture of the grotesque and impossible with reality, he looked upon as a trick—a skilful trick at best.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Current technology limits users to, at best, 10 words per minute, while natural human speech occurs at roughly 150 words/minute.

(Scientists translate brain signals into speech sounds, National Institutes of Health)

Since acute eosinophilic leukemia is at best exceedingly rare, the term eosinophilic leukemia is normally used as a synonym for chronic eosinophilic leukemia.

(Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia, Not Otherwise Specified, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)

At best, these scams don't work. At worst, they're dangerous.

(Health Fraud, Food and Drug Administration)

Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was no worse, she had need to be thankful.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go willingly their full stage at best speed.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But it was a weak growl at best, and it quickly ceased.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Well, I went, left all that I loved, and went to those to whom, at best, I was only indifferent.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A poorly defined concept which at best is described as an extremely rare entity, possibly related to various subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia with abnormal eosinophils.

(Acute Eosinophilic Leukemia, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)

Louisa could not listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held with Dr Shirley: she was at a window, looking out for Captain Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude of the negotiation.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)