most

/moust/

Thân thiện

The most beautiful flowers in the garden are the roses.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Greatest in amount, extent, or degree: Used as the superlative form of 'much' with mass nouns (uncountable things), typically preceded by 'the'.
   • Greatest in number: Used as the superlative form of 'many' with count nouns (countable things), typically preceded by 'the'.

2. Adverb:

   • To the greatest extent or degree: Used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs.
   • Very, extremely: Used to give emphasis, meaning "to a very great degree."
   • Almost, nearly: Used to indicate something is very close to being true or complete.

3. Pronoun/Noun:

   • The greatest amount or number: Refers to the largest part, quantity, or number of something.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She made the most money in her department. (Used with the mass noun 'money'.)
  • Most people enjoy a good story. (Used with the count noun 'people', meaning 'the greatest number of'.)

• Adverb:

  • This is the most beautiful painting I have ever seen. (Forms the superlative of 'beautiful'.)
  • It was a most unusual experience. (Means 'very' or 'extremely'.)
  • The project is most certainly finished. (Can mean 'almost' or 'very nearly'.)

• Pronoun/Noun:

  • Most of the cake has been eaten.
  • He did most of the work himself.

Advanced Usage

• "at (the) most": Used to state the largest possible amount, number, or estimate.

  • The repair will take an hour, at most.

• "for the most part": Mainly; usually.

  • The instructions are, for the most part, easy to follow.

• "make the most of": To use or enjoy something as fully as possible.

  • You should make the most of this opportunity.

Variants and Related Words

• Almost (adv): Very nearly. (Shares the 'nearly' sense of 'most'.)
• Nearly (adv): Very close to; almost. (Shares the 'nearly' sense of 'most'.)
• Utmost (adj): Greatest; most extreme. (Intensifies the superlative idea.)

Synonyms

• Greatest (adj): Of the highest degree.
• Majority (n): The greater number or part.
• Nearly (adv): Almost.
• Extremely (adv): To a very great degree.

Related Phrases

• Most of all: More than anything else.

  • I enjoy reading, but I love traveling most of all.

• Most likely: Very probably.

  • She will most likely arrive before noon.

Idioms

• At the very most: Emphasizing the absolute maximum limit.

  • It will cost twenty dollars at the very most.

• The most: (Informal) Excellent; the best.

  • That new restaurant is the most!

Học thuật

Adjective

1. the superlative of `much' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree
   • made the most money he could
   • what attracts the most attention?
   • made the most of a bad deal
2. (superlative of `many' used with count nouns and often preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number
   • who has the most apples?
   • most people like eggs
   • most fishes have fins

Adverb

1. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
   • the job is (just) about done
   • the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
   • we're almost finished
   • the car all but ran her down
   • he nearly fainted
   • talked for nigh onto 2 hours
   • the recording is well-nigh perfect
   • virtually all the parties signed the contract
   • I was near exhausted by the run
   • most everyone agrees
2. very
   • a most welcome relief
3. used to form the superlative
   • the king cobra is the most dangerous snake

Từ đồng nghĩa

• most
• about
• almost
• nearly
• near
• nigh
• virtually
• well-nigh
• to the highest degree