I. worst 1 /wɜːst $ wɜːrst/ BrE AmE 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
II. worst 2 BrE AmE 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.
III. worst 3 BrE AmE 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.