worst
[verb]
Synonyms: defeat, best, down, outdo, pip

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. worst¹ /wɜːst $ wɜːrst/ adjective [the superlative of bad]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wierresta, wyrsta]

1. [only before noun] worse than anything or anyone else ⇒ best:
This is the worst recession for fifty years.
My worst fear was that we would run out of food.
What is the worst possible thing that can happen?

2. be your own worst enemy to cause a lot of problems for yourself because of your own behaviour

3. come off worst to lose a fight or argument

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. worst² noun

1. the worst the person or thing that is worse than all others ⇒ the best
worst (that)
This year’s harvest is the worst that people can remember.
Last year was by far the worst (=much worse than any other) for road accidents.
I think the worst is over now.
The worst of it is (=the worst part of the situation is), I can’t tell anyone what’s happening.
at its/his etc worst
You saw the garden at its worst, I’m afraid (=when it is worse than at any other time).

2. the worst of something most of something, or the most unpleasant or difficult part of it:
The worst of the storm seemed to be over.

3. expect/fear the worst to expect or fear that something will not be successful or something bad will happen:
When it got so late and they still weren’t home, I began to fear the worst.

4. get/have the worst of it spoken to lose a fight or argument

5. at (the) worst if things are as bad as they can be:
Choosing the right software can be time-consuming at best and confusing or frustrating at worst.

6. do your/his/her/their worst used to say that someone can try to harm you but they will not be able to:
They can do their worst now, because I’m leaving in three weeks.

7. if the worst comes to the worst especially British English, if worst comes to worst especially American English if the situation develops in the worst possible way:
If the worst comes to the worst, we’ll sell the car.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. worst³ adverb [the superlative of badly]

1. most badly ⇒ best:
Aid is being sent to areas that have been worst affected by the earthquake.
the worst-dressed man in the office

2. worst of all used to say what is the worst part of a situation:
She had no office of her own and, worst of all, she didn’t even have her own computer.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

worst
noun the worst
VERB + WORST expect It doesn't matter what I say. My mother always expects the worst.
fear, suspect | be prepared for, prepare for Although all the votes have not yet been counted, the Democrats are preparing for the worst.
confirm I had not expected to do well in my exams, and the letter confirmed the worst.
be spared, escape Scotland seemed to have escaped the worst of the recession.
do your Let them do their worst (= be as difficult as they can)?we'll fight them every inch of the way.
WORST + VERB be over He was still very ill, but the worst seemed to be over.
PREP. at (sb/sth's) ~ At worst, the drug can be fatal. At its worst, bullying is a kind of torture.
through the ~ Her sister helped her through the worst of her illness.
VERB + WORST bring out the worst in sb Pressure can bring out the worst in people.
get the worst of it He'd been in a fight and had obviously got the worst of it.
the worst that can happen Don't worry?the worst that can happen is that you'll get a fine.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

worst
adjective
BAD: The next time I saw her she looked even worst.
GOOD: The next time I saw her she looked even worse.
BAD: The day finished worst than it began.
GOOD: The day finished worse than it began.

Usage Note:
See note at WORSE (worse)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

worst
wə:st
See: get the worst of also have the worst of , if worst comes to worst

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲