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Very vs Best - What's the difference?

very | best |

As an adjective very

is true, real, actual.

As an adverb very

is to a great extent or degree; extremely; exceedingly.

As a proper noun best is

.

very

English

(wikipedia very)

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • True, real, actual.
  • :
  • *Bible, (w) xxvii. 21
  • *:whether thou be my very son Esau or not
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness.
  • *(Edmund Burke) (1729-1797)
  • *:I looked on the consideration of public service or public ornament to be real and very justice.
  • *
  • *:Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=The country’s first black president, and its first president to reach adulthood after the Vietnam War and Watergate, Mr. Obama seemed like a digital-age leader who could at last dislodge the stalemate between those who clung to the government of the Great Society, on the one hand, and those who disdained the very idea of government, on the other.}}
  • The same; identical.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.
  • With limiting effect: mere.
  • *, I.40:
  • *:We have many examples in our daies, yea in very children, of such as for feare of some slight incommoditie have yeelded unto death.
  • Synonyms

    *

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To a great extent or degree; extremely; exceedingly.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean. ¶ There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.
  • *, chapter=13
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably.” And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.}}
  • True, truly.
  • :
  • Usage notes

    * When used in their senses as degree adverbs, "very" and "too" never modify verbs.

    Synonyms

    * (to a great extent) ever so, (l) (dialectal), (l) (archaic), (l) (dialectal)

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    *

    best

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (good).
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • When he is best , he is a little worse than a man.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Heaven's last, best gift
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Schumpeter
  • , title= Cronies and capitols , passage=Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult.
  • Most; largest.
  • Derived terms

    * bestness

    Antonyms

    * worst

    Adverb

    (head)
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Thou serpent! That name best befits thee.
  • *(Samuel Taylor Coleridge) (1772-1834)
  • *:He prayeth best', who loveth ' best / All things both great and small.
  • *
  • *:At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy?; and what she liked best' and ' best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.
  • To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Had we best retire? I see a storm.
  • *(William Makepeace Thackeray) (1811-1863)
  • *:Had I not best go to her?
  • Noun

  • (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.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
  • , date=September 28 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Home defender Per Mertesacker had to be at his best to stop a dangerous cross from Vassilis Torossidis reaching Djebbour, but moments later Arsenal doubled their lead through Santos.}}
  • (countable) The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
  • something that is best
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • to surpass in skill or achievement.
  • To beat in a contest;
  • * 2010 , T. William Phillips, Restless Heart , page 16
  • "You did not win because I was sloppy. You bested me, Uncle. I've never seen you fight like that before.”

    Antonyms

    * To worst.

    Derived terms

    * all for the best * all the best * as best one can * at best * had best * have the best of * get the best of * make the best of * the best part of * with the best * best of the best

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * bets 1000 English basic words ----