Most — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun pronoun /ˈmōst/

Meaning & Definition of Most

Most (adjective)

  1. greatest in quantity, extent, or degree
  2. the majority of

Most (adverb)

  1. to the greatest or highest degree —often used with an adjective or adverb to form the superlative
  2. to a very great degree
  3. almost

Most (noun)

  1. the greatest amount

Most (pronoun)

  1. the greatest number or part

Most (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to a great degree

    "a most careful driver, especially in bad weather"

    similar: achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous (chiefly dialect), mortally, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, very, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly, a lot, as all get-out, good and
    related: absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly, abundantly, plentifully, astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally, excessively, obscenely, overmuch, amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat
    near: meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

  2. very close to but not completely

    "the cost of most everything is higher nowadays"

    similar: about, all but, almost, borderline, fair (chiefly British), fairly, feckly (chiefly Scottish), more or less, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh, as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of
    related: appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, kind of, partially, partly, somewhat
    near: absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, barely, hardly, scarcely

Most (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of the greatest or highest degree or quantity

    "the player with the most ability on the tennis team"

    similar: consummate, last, max, maximum, nth, outside, paramount, supreme, top, ultimate, utmost, uttermost
    related: unequaled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled, unsurpassed, biggest, hugest, largest, topmost, upmost, uppermost
    opposite: least, minimal, minimum, slightest
    near: littlest, minutest, smallest, tiniest, lowest, fewest

Most (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the greatest amount, number, or part

    "this room will accommodate 50 people at the most"

    similar: max, maximum, outside
    related: best, ultimate, utmost, extreme
    opposite: least, minimum

Related Entry: Many (adjective)

Many is a different word from Most. The synonyms below are for many, not for most.

  1. being of a large but indefinite number

    "a journey of many miles begins with a single step"

    similar: beaucoup (slang), legion, multifold, multiple, multiplex, multitudinous, numerous, all kinds of, quite a few
    related: countless, innumerable, numberless, uncountable, unnumbered, untold, several, some, miscellaneous, mixed, sundry, various, divers, manifold, multifarious, myriad
    opposite: few
    near: countable, limited

Related Entry: Much (adjective)

Much is a different word from Most. The synonyms below are for much, not for most.

  1. having great meaning or lasting effect

    "actually, nothing much changed"

    similar: big, consequential, earth-shattering, earthshaking, eventful, historic, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, significant, substantial, tectonic, weighty
    related: decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic, earnest, grave, heavy, serious, sincere, distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, preeminent, prestigious, famous, notorious, renowned, all-important, central, critical, crucial, essential, key, pivotal, seminal, vital
    opposite: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant
    near: paltry, petty, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

Related Entry: Much (adverb)

Much is a different word from Most. The synonyms below are for much, not for most.

  1. to a great degree

    "much gratified by the favorable response to her novel"

    similar: achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous (chiefly dialect), mortally, most, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, very, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly, a lot, as all get-out, good and
    related: absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly, abundantly, plentifully, astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally, excessively, obscenely, overmuch, amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat
    near: meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

  2. to a large extent or degree

    "the new decorations made me much happier"

    similar: astronomically, big-time, broadly, colossally, considerably, enormously, extensively, greatly, highly, hugely, largely, massively, monstrously, monumentally, sizably, staggeringly, stupendously, tremendously, utterly, vastly, a lot, by half, no end
    related: appreciably, noticeably, significantly, abundantly, amply, copiously, healthily, plentifully
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly
    near: modestly, fractionally, imperceptibly, infinitesimally, insignificantly, invisibly, microscopically, minutely, barely, hardly, just, minimally, scarcely

  3. very close to but not completely

    "today the old neighborhood looks much as it did years ago"

    similar: about, all but, almost, borderline, fair (chiefly British), fairly, feckly (chiefly Scottish), more or less, most, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, somewhere, virtually, well-nigh, as good as, just about, pretty much, within an inch of
    related: appreciably, by and large, chiefly, largely, mainly, mostly, kind of, partially, partly, somewhat
    near: absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb (chiefly dialect), quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, barely, hardly, scarcely

  4. many times

    "I don't do that much anymore"

    similar: again and again, constantly, continually, frequently, hourly, oft, often, oftentimes, over and over, repeatedly, a lot, time after time, time and again
    related: always, consistently, continuingly, continuously, night and day, perpetually, unceasingly, uninterruptedly, afresh, again, anew, commonly, habitually, ordinarily, regularly, routinely, intermittently, periodically, recurrently, generally, usually
    opposite: infrequently, little, rarely, seldom
    near: now, now and then, occasionally, sometimes, sporadically, ne'er, never, once

  5. close to but not exactly

    "he behaves much the same as I did at that age"

    similar: about, approximately, around, like, more or less, near, plus or minus, roughly, say, some, after a fashion, somewhere about, somewhere around
    related: generally, kind of, loosely, nearly, nominally, practically, virtually, well-nigh
    opposite: exactly, precisely
    near: due, even, just, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

Related Entry: Make (verb)

Make is a different word from Most. The synonyms below are for make, not for most.

  1. to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials

    "will you help me make the dough for the cookies?"

    similar: fabricate, fashion, form, frame, manufacture, produce, put together
    related: assemble, build, construct, erect, make up, put up, raise, rear, set up, structure, throw up, craft, handcraft, hew, forge, mold, shape, cobble (together or up), knock out, patch (together), prefabricate, create, invent, mint, originate, establish, father, institute, organize, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up), conceive, envisage, picture, visualize, refashion, remake, remanufacture
    near: disassemble, dismantle, take apart, break up, dismember, abolish, annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, flatten, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, wreck, blow up, explode

  2. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "we finally made it!"

    similar: achieve, attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) (chiefly British), gain, hit, log, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

  3. to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

    "the cats made quite a disturbance when they knocked the Christmas tree over"

    similar: beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, bring forth, give rise to
    related: conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render, turn out
    near: impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can (slang), kill, snuff (out), still, abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

  4. to carry through (as a process) to completion

    "one person from each department will be asked to make a short presentation at the meeting"

    similar: accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, go through
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    near: fail, skimp, slight, slur

  5. to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

    "made him do all the work while everyone else just lounged around"

    similar: blackjack, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, drive, force, impel, impress, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, pressure, sandbag, twist one's arm
    related: browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate, blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten, drag, badger, harass, hound
    near: allow, let, permit, argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

  6. to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement

    "I make that to be about six feet long"

    similar: calculate, call, conjecture, estimate, figure, gauge, guess, judge, place, put, reckon, suppose
    related: conclude, deduce, extrapolate, gather, infer, reason, understand
    near: calibrate, measure, scale, compute, work out

  7. to form by putting together parts or materials

    "make a model airplane"

    similar: assemble, build, confect, construct, erect, fabricate, make up, piece, put up, raise, rear, set up, put together
    related: carpenter, fashion, forge, frame, hammer, handcraft, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, prefabricate, begin, coin, create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up), reassemble, rebuild, reconstruct, redevelop, reedify (British), retrofit, jerry-build, rig (up), throw up, combine, unite
    opposite: demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down
    near: demolish, destroy, devastate, flatten, level, pull down, pulverize, raze, ruin, ruinate, shatter, smash, wreck, blow up, explode, detach, disengage, disconnect, disjoin, disunite, divide, separate

  8. to give the impression of being

    "the family made merry despite their financial worries"

    similar: act, appear, come across (as), come off (as), feel, look, seem, sound
    related: dissemble, pretend, recall, resemble, suggest, hint, imply, insinuate

  9. to go on a specified course or in a certain direction

    "the baby made straight for the toy lying on the rug"

    similar: bear, head
    related: aim, bend, direct, point, turn, beeline, light out, put, put out, set off, set out, strike, take off, face, orient, steer, about-face, back, come about, come round, cut, incline, put about, reverse, swerve, tack, turn back, veer, wheel, yaw

  10. to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action

    "the legislature failed to make any new laws last session"

    similar: constitute, enact, lay down, legislate, ordain, pass
    related: reenact, repass, bring about, effect, allow, authorize, permit, sanction, decree, dictate, proclaim, administer, execute, approve, confirm, ratify
    opposite: repeal, rescind, revoke
    near: abolish, abrogate, annul, cancel, invalidate, kill, nullify, overturn, reverse, void

  11. to receive as return for effort

    "I make considerably more money now than I did when I first started working here"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

  12. to have a clear idea of

    "what do you make of the latest information?"

    similar: appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand, pick up on
    related: absorb, digest, take in, realize, fathom, penetrate, pierce
    opposite: miss
    near: misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

  13. to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening

    "make the gate when ye leave"

    similar: close, shut, steek (chiefly Scottish)
    related: bar, batten (down), bolt, chain, fasten, latch, lock, plug, seal, stopper, secure, bang, clap, slam
    opposite: open
    near: unbar, unbolt, unchain, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unseal

Related Entry: Part (noun)

Part is a different word from Most. The synonyms below are for part, not for most.

  1. one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled

    "the model car came in several small parts that had to be put together"

    similar: member, partition, portion, section, segment
    related: component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient, moiety, parcel, cut, length, bit, fragment, particle, scrap
    near: whole, aggregate, composite, compound, sum, total, totality

  2. something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group

    "wanted no part of the profits"

    similar: allotment, allowance, cut, end, piece, portion, proportion, quota, share, slice, take, piece of the action
    related: lot, ration, commission, percentage, member, partition, section, segment
    near: aggregate, composite, compound, pool, sum, total, totality, whole

  3. the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

    "I'll do my part, so don't worry"

    similar: business, capacity, function, job, place, position, purpose, role, task, work
    related: affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, office, post, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

  4. a broad geographical area

    "I'm not from around these parts"

    similar: belt, corridor, land, neck, region, tract, zone
    related: district, domain, latitude(s), range, realm, terrain, territory, neighborhood, vicinity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Most

The most common words with a similar meaning to Most:

Chiefly dialect: monstrous
Chiefly British: fair
Chiefly Scottish: feckly
achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Most

Words with the opposite meaning of Most:

little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat, least, minimal, minimum, slightest

Related Words for Most

absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly

Near Antonyms of Most

meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely, absolutely, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, plain, plumb, quite, thoroughly, totally, utterly, well, wholly, littlest, minutest, smallest, tiniest, lowest, fewest

Origin & Etymology of Most

Middle English, from Old English mǣst; akin to Old High German meist most, Old English māra more more

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Most

Words & Phrases Containing Most

-most, Most Reverend

Frequently Asked Questions about Most

What does "Most" mean?

"Most" means greatest in quantity, extent, or degree. As an an adjective, an adverb, a noun and a pronoun, it is defined as: greatest in quantity, extent, or degree. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Most"?

Other words for "Most" include achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly and blisteringly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Most" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Most"?

There are 178 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Most". Common alternatives include achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone and colossally.

What is the opposite of "Most"?

Antonyms of "Most" include little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat, least, minimal and minimum. Near antonyms include meagerly, scantily, barely and hardly.

How do you use "Most" in a sentence?

Examples of "Most" in a sentence: "a most careful driver, especially in bad weather"; "the cost of most everything is higher nowadays"; "the player with the most ability on the tennis team".

Is "Most" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Most" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a noun and a pronoun, depending on the context.

Is "Most" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Most" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Most"?

"Most" is pronounced /ˈmōst/.