- worst
- worst1 [wə:st US wə:rst] adj [the superlative of bad][: 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 enemyto cause a lot of problems for yourself because of your own behaviour3.) come off worstto lose a fight or argumentworst 2worst2 n1.) the worstthe 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 any other time) .2.) the worst of sthmost of something, or the most unpleasant or difficult part of it▪ The worst of the storm seemed to be over.3.) expect/fear the worstto 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 itspoken to lose a fight or argument5.) at (the) worstif 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 worstused 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 worstespecially BrE if worst comes to worst especially AmEif the situation develops in the worst possible way▪ If the worst comes to the worst, we'll sell the car.worst 3worst3 adv [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 office2.) worst of allused 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.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.