HAD BEST

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does had best mean? 

• HAD BEST (verb)
  The verb HAD BEST has 1 sense:

1. act in one's own or everybody's best interest

  Familiarity information: HAD BEST used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAD BEST (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act in one's own or everybody's best interest

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

do well; had best

Context example:

You will do well to arrive on time tomorrow!

Hypernyms (to "had best" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s INFINITIVE

 Context examples 

I think now, said Gregson, rising, we had best put this matter into an official shape.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I have said nothing to the local police yet, for I thought I had best have your opinion first.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I think you had best see her and hear her account of the facts.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“We had best on,” he said.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“We had best see your father at once, nephew,” said he.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But now, if you are of my opinion, we have had thrills enough for one day, and had best get back to the surgical box at the camp for some carbolic.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He did not know what they had best do.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more of your young ladies.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In a low, cautious voice, he said:—I have been considering what we had best do.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

In this desolate condition I advanced forward, and soon got upon firm ground, where I sat down on a bank to rest myself, and consider what I had best do.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)