MOST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does most mean? 

• MOST (adjective)
  The adjective MOST has 2 senses:

1. (superlative of 'many' used with count nouns and often preceded by 'the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number

2. 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

  Familiarity information: MOST used as an adjective is rare.

• MOST (adverb)
  The adverb MOST has 3 senses:

1. used to form the superlative

2. very

3. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

  Familiarity information: MOST used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOST (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(superlative of 'many' used with count nouns and often preceded by 'the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number

Context example:

most fishes have fins

Domain usage:

superlative (an exaggerated expression (usually of praise))

Antonym:

fewest ((superlative of 'few' used with count nouns and usually preceded by 'the') quantifier meaning the smallest in number)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Context example:

made the most of a bad deal

Domain usage:

superlative (an exaggerated expression (usually of praise))

Antonym:

least (the superlative of 'little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by 'the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree)

• MOST (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used to form the superlative

Synonyms:

most; to the highest degree

Context example:

the king cobra is the most dangerous snake

Antonym:

least (used to form the superlative)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Very

Context example:

a most welcome relief

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

Synonyms:

about; almost; most; near; nearly; nigh; virtually; well-nigh

Context example:

most everyone agrees

 Context examples 

I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Burns, you poke your chin most unpleasantly; draw it in.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This was the most unbelievable part of the entire episode!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Another time the brown wanderer succeeded in traversing half the length of California, all of Oregon, and most of Washington, before he was picked up and returned "Collect."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed as if news of the most secret things was brought to him through the air.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Most of what you was sayin' I can't digest.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

That is his most dangerous subject.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“We will meet him most probably on the Japan coast. Men call him ‘Death’ Larsen.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

However, it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing his majesty, at least as I then thought, a most signal service.

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

A. turicensis is most often related to genital, skin, and urinary tract infections.

(Actinomyces turicensis, NCI Thesaurus)