WORST


Meaning of WORST in English

/ wɜːst; NAmE wɜːrst/ adjective , adverb , noun , verb

■ adjective

(superlative of bad ) of the poorest quality or lowest standard; worse than any other person or thing of a similar kind :

It was by far the worst speech he had ever made.

What's the worst thing that could happen?

What she said confirmed my worst fears (= proved they were right) .

IDIOMS

- be your own worst enemy

- come off worst

■ adverb

(superlative of badly ) most badly or seriously :

He was voted the worst dressed celebrity.

Manufacturing industry was worst affected by the fuel shortage.

Worst of all , I lost the watch my father had given me.

■ noun

the worst [ sing. ] the most serious or unpleasant thing that could happen; the part, situation, possibility, etc. that is worse than any other :

The worst of the storm was over.

When they did not hear from her, they feared the worst .

The worst of it is that I can't even be sure if they received my letter.

He was always optimistic, even when things were at their worst .

IDIOMS

- at (the) worst

- bring out the worst in sb

- do your worst

- get the worst of it

- if the worst comes to the worst

- the worst of all (possible) worlds

■ verb

[ vn ] ( old-fashioned or formal ) [ usually passive ] to defeat sb in a fight, a contest or an argument

SYN get the better of

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English wierresta , wyrresta (adjective), wierst , wyrst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to worse .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.