worst
pronunciation
How to pronounce worst in British English:
UK [wɜ:st]
How to pronounce worst in American English:
US [wɜrst]
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- Noun:
- the least favorable outcome
- the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable
- the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of
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- Verb:
- defeat thoroughly
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- Adjective:
- (superlative of `bad') most wanting in quality or value or condition
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- Adverb:
- to the highest degree of inferiority or badness
Word Origin
- worst (adj.)
- Old English wyrresta, from Proto-Germanic *wers-ista- (cognates: Old Saxon wirsista, Old Norse verstr, Old Frisian wersta, Old High German wirsisto), superlative of PIE *wers- (1) "to confuse, mix up" (see war (n.)). Phrase in the worst way (1839) is from American English sense of "most severely." The adverb is Old English wyrst; the noun, "that which is most evil or bad," is from late 14c.
- worst (v.)
- "damage, inflict loss upon," c. 1600, from worst (adj.). Meaning "defeat in argument" is from 1650s. Related: Worsted; worsting.
Antonym
Example
- 1. You fare the worst in world opinion .
- 2. What 's the worst that could happen ?
- 3. There are reasons not to fear the worst .
- 4. It was the worst such incident in recent memory .
- 5. Fiat described its sales performance as the worst for the month of march in 32 years .