perfect
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- complete, absolute, consummate, entire, finished, full, sheer, unmitigated, utter, whole
- faultless, flawless, immaculate, impeccable, pure, spotless, unblemished
- excellent, ideal, splendid, sublime, superb, superlative, supreme
- exact, accurate, correct, faithful, precise, true, unerring
[verb]
Synonyms:
- improve, develop, polish, refine
- accomplish, achieve, carry out, complete, finish, fulfil, perform

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Antonyms: imperfect
Contrasted words: defective, faulty, flawed, deficient, inadequate, wanting, unfinished, unpolished, unsound, foolish, inappropriate, undesirable, unsuitable
Related Idioms: being just the thing
Related Words: excellent, consummate, expert, finished, masterful, masterly, needed, required, requisite, appropriate, fit, proper, right, suitable, exact, express, precise

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English Thesaurus: perfect, ideal, just right, be just the thing/person, a high ideal, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. per‧fect¹ S2 W2 /ˈpɜːfɪkt $ ˈpɜːr-/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: perfection ≠ imperfection, perfectionist, perfectionism, perfectibility; adjective: perfect ≠ imperfect, perfectible, perfectionist; verb: perfect; adverb: perfectly ≠ imperfectly]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: parfit, from Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere 'to do completely, finish']

1. not having any mistakes, faults, or damage Antonym : imperfect:
His English was perfect.
The car was in perfect condition.
You’re very lucky to have perfect teeth.
a perfect performance
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need an army.

2. as good as possible, or the best of its kind:
The weather was perfect the whole week.
a perfect example of Gothic architecture
The clothes were a perfect fit.
a perfect solution to the problem
Ronnie was in perfect health.
perfect timing (=used when something happens at exactly the right time)
Good, you’re home. Perfect timing – dinner’s on the table.

3. exactly what is needed for a particular purpose, situation, or person Synonym : ideal:
That’s perfect! Just the way I wanted it to look.
Crusty bread is the perfect accompaniment to this soup.
perfect for
The land is perfect for sheep farming.
perfect way/place/time etc to do something
She thought she’d found the perfect place to live.
perfect day/place/person etc for something
a perfect day for a picnic
the perfect actor for the part

4. nobody’s perfect spoken said when you are answering someone who has criticized you or someone else:
So I made a mistake! Nobody’s perfect.

5. have a perfect right to do something used to emphasize that it is reasonable for someone to do something:
He has a perfect right to know what’s happening.

6. perfect stranger/fool/angel etc used to emphasize that someone has a particular quality completely Synonym : complete, total:
I felt a perfect idiot.
⇒ perfectly, ⇒ practice makes perfect at practice(9), ⇒ present perfect, past perfect

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. per‧fect² /pəˈfekt $ pər-/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: perfection ≠ imperfection, perfectionist, perfectionism, perfectibility; adjective: perfect ≠ imperfect, perfectible, perfectionist; verb: perfect; adverb: perfectly ≠ imperfectly]
to make something as good as you are able to:
Mock trials help students perfect their legal skills.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. per‧fect³ /ˈpɜːfɪkt $ ˈpɜːr-/ noun
the perfect technical the form of a verb which is used when talking about a period of time up to and including the present. In English, it is formed with ‘have’ and the past participle. Synonym : present perfect
⇒ past perfect

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

perfect
adj.
VERBS be, look, seem | make sth Hove's position makes it perfect for touring.
ADV. absolutely, quite | far from, less than The treaty is far from perfect, but it is clearly the way forward.
almost, near, practically, virtually | impossibly the impossibly perfect shine on the vinyl-tiled floors
seemingly a seemingly perfect alibi
physically | mathematically
PREP. for The day seemed perfect for a picnic.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

perfect

absolutely perfect
His sight is absolutely perfect.
quite perfect written (=absolutely perfect)
The old bottle was very dark blue and quite perfect.
almost/nearly/near perfect
His collection included an almost perfect skeleton of an armadillo.
Her performance was near perfect.
less than perfect (=not perfect)
So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
far from perfect (=not at all perfect)
The weather conditions were far from perfect.
technically perfect
The system was technically perfect.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

perfect
adjective
BAD: I am pleased to say that the tape recorder now works perfect.
GOOD: I am pleased to say that the tape recorder now works perfectly.

Usage Note:
Perfect is an adjective: 'My grandmother enjoys perfect health.'
Perfectly is an adverb: 'The baby is perfectly healthy.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

perfect completely suitable for something or someone:
It’s the perfect place to relax after a hard day at work.
It was a perfect day for going to the beach.
I think she would be perfect for him.
ideal very suitable and exactly what you want – often used about someone or something that you imagine, but which does not really exist:
What would be your ideal job?
She still hasn’t found her ideal man.
It is the ideal place for a vacation.
just right especially spoken very good or suitable in every way:
The weather was just right for a day at the beach.
The dress is just right for you.
be just the thing/person informal to be exactly what is needed or wanted:
Cold lemonade is just the thing on a hot day.
He’s just the person for the job.
a high ideal (also a lofty ideal formal)
Most politicians start out with high ideals.
a noble ideal
He was willing to sacrifice his life for this noble ideal.
a romantic ideal
I gave up my romantic ideal of love at the age of nineteen.
political ideals
Are you willing to fight for your political ideals?
revolutionary ideals
He still believed in the revolutionary ideals of equality and justice.
socialist/democratic/liberal ideals
He is committed to democratic ideals such as majority rule.
artistic ideals (also aesthetic ideals formal)
His father had given up artistic ideals in pursuit of money.
believe in an ideal
We believe in the ideal of justice for all.
be committed to an ideal (=believe in it strongly)
Everyone in the party is committed to the same socialist ideals.
meet/live up to your ideals (=be as good as you think something should be)
The regime is not living up to its supposed democratic ideals.
fall short of your ideals (=not be as good as you think something should be)
In appearance, she fell somewhat short of his ideals.
be true to your ideals (=to behave in the way that you believe is right)
Stick to your principles and be true to your ideals.
cling to your ideals (=continue to believe that something is good or right even when it does not seem to be like this in real life)
He is a man who still clings to ideals of loyalty and friendship.
abandon your ideals (=to stop believing in ideals)
Have these young people abandoned the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement?
betray your ideals (=to do something that is not acceptable according to your ideals)
He argues that Lenin betrayed his revolutionary ideals.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

perfect used about something that is very good in every way, and could not be better:
We had a wonderful vacation - the weather was perfect.
The meal was absolutely perfect.
She has perfect teeth.
flawless/faultless without any mistakes or faults:
His English was flawless.
a faultless performance
impeccable so good that you cannot find anything wrong with it – used especially about someone’s behaviour, taste, or experience:
The food was excellent and the service impeccable.
a man of impeccable manners, charm, and sensibility
her mother's impeccable taste in clothing
The commission was composed of economists with impeccable credentials (=very impressive qualifications and experience, which are impossible to criticize).
unspoiled (also unspoilt British English) an unspoiled area has not been changed or had ugly buildings, roads etc built on it:
a beautiful area of unspoiled countryside
ideal very suitable and exactly what you want – often used about someone or something that you imagine, but which does not really exist:
What would be your ideal job?
She still hasn’t found her ideal man.
It is the ideal place for a vacation.
just right especially spoken very good or suitable in every way:
The weather was just right for a day at the beach.
The dress is just right for you.
be just the thing/person informal to be exactly what is needed or wanted:
Cold lemonade is just the thing on a hot day.
He’s just the person for the job.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲