most
UK/ˈməʊst//ˈmoʊst/
most is the superlative degree of much.
most is the superlative degree of many.
most is the clipping of almost.
Adverb
most (not comparable)
- Forms the superlative of many adjectives.
- This is the most important example.
- Correctness is most important.
- Antonyms:
- least
- With a superlative adjective ending in -est.
- the most tallest building in the world
- To a great extent or degree; highly; very.
- This is a most unusual specimen.
- Most cruel edict! Sure, thy generous soul, Septimius, abhors the dreadful task of persecution.1750, “Theodora”, Thomas Morell (lyrics), George Frideric Handel (music)
Noun
most (usually uncountable, plural mosts)
- The greatest amount.
- The most I can offer for the house is $150,000.
- The greater part.
- Most of the penguins were friendly and curious.
- Most of the rice was spoiled.
- A record-setting amount.
- Along with their massive size will come other “mosts”: they will likely be the longest living, the best educated, the wealthiest and the most wired/ wireless.2001, George Barna, Real Teens: A Contemporary Snapshot of Youth Culture, →ISBN, page 15
- Virginia had a number of "mosts” that made it appealing, if not representative of all Confederate states: the most citizens among the Southern states; the most slaves; the most men under arms; the most famous Southern generals; the most fighting within its borders; the most divided by the war (what...2002, John Gregory Selby, Virginians at War: The Civil War Experiences of Seven Young Confederates, →ISBN, page xvii
Meaning of much
Determiner
much (comparative more, superlative most)
- A large amount of.
- Do you think I have much chance of catching the train on time?
- Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the quantity of something.
- Add this much water and no more.
- A great number of; many (people).
- ye shall not nede to seke hym soo ferre sayd the Kynge / for as I here saye sir Launcelot will abyde me and yow in the Ioyous gard / and moche peple draweth vnto hym as I here saye1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter X, in Le Morte Darthur, book XX
- many ( + plural countable noun).
- They got so much things to say right now, they got so much things to say.1977, Bob Marley, “So Much Things to Say”
Meaning of many
Determiner
many (comparative more, superlative most)
- before a countable noun: A large, indefinite number of.
- Not many such people enjoyed playing chess.
- Synonyms:
- numerous
- before a countable noun: (in combinations such as 'as many', 'so many', 'this many') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the number of people or things.
- We don't need this many bananas. Put some back.
Adjective
most (not comparable)
- The greatest; the best.
- PATTY:They announced this year's nominees for student council. And guess who's up for vice-president? Me! Isn't that the most to say the least?1978 September 14, Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey, Bronte Woodard, directed by Randal Kleiser, Grease (film), spoken by Patty Simcox (Susan Buckner)
Pronoun
most
- The greater part of a group, especially a group of people.
- Most want the best for their children.
- The peach was juicier and more flavourful than most.
- Synonyms:
- the majority
Synonyms of most
- more than half of
- all
- the majority
- the majority of
Antonyms
Forms of most
| Determiner | |
|---|---|
| alternative form (obsolete) | moste |
| Noun | |
| plural | mosts |
Origin of most
From Middle English most, moste, from Old English mǣst, māst, from Proto-Germanic *maistaz, *maist. Cognate with Scots mast, maist (“most”), Saterland Frisian maast (“most”), West Frisian meast (“most”), Dutch meest (“most”), German meist (“most”), Danish and Swedish mest (“most”), Icelandic mestur (“most”).
Clipping of almost.
Words formed from most
- aldermost
- at most
- at the most
- at the very most
- backmost
- do the most
- empty barrels make the most noise
- empty cans make the most noise
- empty vessels make the most noise
- empty vessels make the most sound
- foremost
- for the most part
- frontmost
- hindmost
- host with the most
- innermost
- lookers-on see most of the game
- make the most of
- -most
- most an end
- most favored nation
- most favoured nation
- most like
- mostly
- most muscular
- mostness
- most of all
- most of the time
- most-perfect magic square
- most Rikki-Tik
- most significant bit
- most significant byte
- most valuable player
- most vexing parse
- most wanted
- mostwhat
- one-size-fits-most
- outermost
- rearmost
- second most
- The Most Reverend
- westermost
Phrases with most
- Most High
- most wanteds
- Most Reverend
- most musculars
- Most Reverends
- most ricky-tick
- most of the times
- hosts with the most
- most favored nations
- most favoured nations
- most significant bits
- most valuable players
2 more phrasesFewer phrases
Words that rhyme with most
12 more rhymesFewer rhymes
Questions about most
- What does most mean?
- Most means forms the superlative of many adjectives.
- What is most the superlative degree of?
- Most is the superlative degree of much.
- What part of speech is most?
- Most can be an adverb, an adjective, a pronoun or a noun.
- How do you pronounce most?
- Most is pronounced /ˈməʊst/ (UK).
Words near most in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: most (page history and authors); much (page history and authors); many (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-us-most.ogg.
Cite this entry: “most.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/most. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.