Great vs. Best

Great vs. Best — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Great and Best

Greatadjective

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i. e. having many parts or members) or duration (i. e. relatively long); very big.

A great storm is approaching our shores.a great assemblya great wait

Bestadjective

.

I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Greatadjective

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

the great auk

Bestadjective

Most; largest.

Unpacking took the best part of a week.

Greatadjective

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the word qualified implies (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

Bestadverb

To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.

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Greatadjective

Pregnant; large with young; full of.

great with childgreat with hope

Bestnoun

(uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.

I did my best.My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.

Greatadjective

Intimate; familiar.

Bestnoun

(uncountable) One's best behavior.

I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I'm nice to her, so I better be on my best.

Greatadjective

Extreme or more than usual.

great worry

Bestnoun

(countable) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.

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Greatadjective

Of significant importance or consequence; important.

a great decision

Bestverb

To surpass in skill or achievement.

Greatadjective

(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

a great deeda great naturea great history

Bestverb

(transitive) To beat in a contest

Greatadjective

Impressive or striking.

a great show of wealth

Bestnoun

the supreme effort one can make;

they did their best

Greatadjective

Much in use; favoured.

Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.

Bestnoun

the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others;

he could beat the best of them

Greatadjective

(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.

Bestnoun

Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

Greatadjective

Title referring to an important leader.

Alexander the Great

Bestverb

get the better of;

the goal was to best the competition

Greatadjective

Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

What a great buffoon!He's not a great one for reading.a great walker

Bestadjective

(superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities;

the best film of the yearthe best solutionthe best time for plantingwore his best suit

Greatadjective

(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

a great carpenterYou are great at singing.

Bestadjective

(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;

it would be better to speak to himthe White House thought it best not to respond

Greatadjective

(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic (from 1848).

Dinner was great.

Bestadverb

in a most excellent way or manner;

he played best after a couple of martinis

Greatadjective

Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

a dirty great smack in the faceGreat Scott!

Bestadverb

it would be sensible;

you'd best stay at home

Greatinterjection

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.

Bestadverb

from a position of superiority or authority;

father knows bestI know better.

Greatinterjection

sarcastic inversion thereof.

Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.

Greatnoun

A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.

Greatnoun

(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

Greatadverb

very well in a very satisfactory manner

Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.

Greatadjective

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;

a great juicy steaka great multitudethe great auka great old oaka great ocean linera great delay

Greatadjective

more than usual;

great expectationsgreat worry

Greatadjective

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;

our distinguished professoran eminent scholara great statesman

Greatadjective

of major significance or importance;

a great work of artEinstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century

Greatadjective

remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;

a great crisishad a great stake in the outcome

Greatadjective

very good;

he did a bully joba neat sports carhad a great time at the partyyou look simply smashing

Greatadjective

uppercase;

capital Agreat Amany medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script

Greatadjective

marked by active interest and enthusiasm;

an avid sports fana great walkeran eager beaver

Greatadjective

in an advanced stage of pregnancy;

was big with childwas great with child