1.
[syn: at best, at the best]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Best \Best\, n.
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.
[1913 Webster]
At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the
case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is
at best very short.
For best, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are
now established for best, and not to be mended." --Milton.
To get the best of, to gain an advantage over, whether
fairly or unfairly.
To make the best of.
(a) To improve to the utmost; to use or dispose of to the
greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry their
commodities where they can make the best of them."
--Bacon.
(b) To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to
make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
at best
adv 1: under the best of conditions; "at best we'll lose only
the money" [syn: at best, at the best] [ant: at the
worst, at worst]