English Explanatory Dictionary

worst

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. superlative form of bad: most bad
  2. Most inferior; doing the least good.
  3. Most unfavorable.
  4. Most harmful or severe.
  5. Used with the definite article and an implied noun: something that is worst.
adv
  1. superlative form of badly: most badly; least well.
noun
  1. Something or someone that is the worst.
verb
  1. To make worse.
  2. To grow worse; to deteriorate.
  3. To outdo or defeat, especially in battle.
name
  1. A surname from German.

Pronunciation

/wɜːst/ /wɔːst/ /wɜɹst/ En-us-worst.ogg /ʋɜsʈ/ /ʋə(r)sʈ/ /(ʋ)ɵ(r)sʈ/

Word forms

worst worsts worsting worsted

Etymology

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz, superlative form of *ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Synonyms

baddest pessimal

Antonyms

best optimal

Related words

worse

Derived words

at the worst at worst bad comes to worst be one's own worst enemy doctors make the worst patients do one's worst fear the worst get the worst of it in the worst way least worst the cobbler always wears the worst shoes the cobbler's children are the worst shod the shoemaker always wears the worst shoes worse comes to worst worst-case worst-case scenario worst case scenario worst comes to worst worst enemy worst for wear worst-kept secret Worst Korea worstness worst of both worlds worst off worst timeline hope for the best, prepare for the worst
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