Thesaurus: most

Related headwords

Definitions

1. a. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all.
2. a. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it.
3. a. Highest in rank; greatest.
4. a. In the greatest or highest degree.
5. adj. (superlative of ‘many’ used with count nouns and often preceded by ‘the’) quantifier meaning the greatest in number
6. adj. the superlative of ‘much’ that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by ‘the’; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree
7. adv. used to form the superlative, greatest in size or degree
8. adv. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
9. adv. used to give emphasis
10. 1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." Prov. xx. 6. The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. Matt. xi. 20. 2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In the moste pride." Chaucer. 3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] Chaucer. Note: Most is used as a noun, the words part, portion, quantity, etc., being omitted, and has the following meanings: 1. The greatest value, number, or part; preponderating portion; highest or chief part. 2. The utmost; greatest possible amount, degree, or result; especially in the phrases to make the most of, at the most, at most. A quarter of a year or some months at the most. Bacon. A covetous man makes the most of what he has. L'Estrange. For the most part, in reference to the larger part of a thing, or to the majority of the persons, instances, or things referred to; as, human beings, for the most part, are superstitious; the view, for the most part, was pleasing. -- Most an end, generally. See An end, under End, n. [Obs.] "She sleeps most an end." Massinger. In the greatest or highest degree. Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. Milton. Note: Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative degree, being equivalent to the termination -est; as, most vile, most wicked; most illustrious; most rapidly. Formerly, and until after the Elizabethan period of our literature, the use of the double superlative was common. See More, adv. The most unkindest cut of all. Shak. The most straitest sect of our religion. Acts xxvi. 5.
11. In the greatest or highest degree.Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiersand prelates. Milton.
12. r:55/d:45 a. (superlative of `many' used with count nouns and often preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number a. the superlative of `much' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree r. used to form the superlative r. very