Great vs. Best — What's the Difference?

Very large in size, extent, or intensity

Of the most excellent or desirable type or quality

Of a larger size than other, similar forms

To the highest degree; most (used with verbs suggesting a desirable action or state or a successful outcome)

Large in quantity or number

That which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable

Extensive in time or distance

Outwit or get the better of (someone)

Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent

Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality; most excellent

Of outstanding significance or importance

Most satisfactory, suitable, or useful; most desirable

Chief or principal

Greatest; most

Superior in quality or character; noble

Most highly skilled

Powerful; influential

In a most excellent way; most creditably or advantageously.

Eminent; distinguished

To the greatest degree or extent; most

Very good; first-rate

One that surpasses all others.

Very skillful

The best part, moment, or value

Enthusiastic

The optimum condition or quality

Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination

One's nicest or most formal clothing.

(Archaic) Pregnant.

The supreme effort one can make

Pl. greats or great One that is great

One's warmest wishes or regards

A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.

To get the better of; beat

A similar division of other organs.

Most; largest.

Very well

Most superior; most favorable.

Used as an intensive with certain adjectives

To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.

(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional

(uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

(uncountable) One's best behavior.

Title referring to an important leader.

(countable) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

To surpass in skill or achievement.

(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.

(transitive) To beat in a contest.

Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

Had best.

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities.

Pregnant; large with young; full of.

Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject.

Intimate; familiar.

Most; largest; as, the best part of a week.

Extreme or more than usual.

Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action; as, to do one's best; to the best of our ability.

Of significant importance or consequence; important.

In the highest degree; beyond all others.

(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.

Impressive or striking.

Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.

Much in use; favoured.

To get the better of.

(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

The supreme effort one can make;

Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

The person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others;

(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Get the better of;

Sarcastic inversion thereof.

(superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities;

A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;

(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

In a most excellent way or manner;

(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.

It would be sensible;

(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.

From a position of superiority or authority;

Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.

Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.

Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.

Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.

Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

Pregnant; big (with young).

More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.

Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.

The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.

Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;

More than usual;

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;

Of major significance or importance;

Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;

Very good;

Uppercase;

Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;

In an advanced stage of pregnancy;