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most    Audio Help   [mohst] Pronunciation Key
–adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.
1.in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.
2.in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.
3.greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent.
–noun
4.the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
5.the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.
6.the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.
7.the majority of persons: to be more sensitive than most.
8.the most, Slang. the ultimate in something: He's the most. That movie was the most.
–adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.
9.in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination -est): most rapid; most wisely.
10.very: a most puzzling case.
11.Informal. almost or nearly.
12.at the most, at the maximum. Also, at most.
13.for the most part. part (def. 34).
14.make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully: to make the most of an opportunity.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME most(e), OE māst; r. ME mest(e), OE mǣst; c. G meist, Goth maists. See more]

11. See almost.
11. The adverb most, a shortened form of almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and everybody; the adjectives all, any, and every; and adverbs like anywhere and everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
make the most of

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
make    Audio Help   (māk)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v.   tr.
  1. To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.
  2. To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.
  3. To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.
  4. To change from one form or function to another: make clay into bricks.
    1. To cause to be or become: made her position clear; a decision that made him happy.
    2. To cause to assume a specified function or role: made her treasurer; made Austin his home.
    3. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.
    4. To compel: made him quit.
    5. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
    6. To compose: make verses.
    7. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
    8. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
    9. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
    10. To engage in: make war.
    11. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
    12. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    13. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    14. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    15. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    16. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    17. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    18. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    19. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    20. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    21. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    22. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    23. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    24. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    25. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    26. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    27. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    28. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    29. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.
    2. To compel: made him quit.
    3. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
    4. To compose: make verses.
    5. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
    6. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
    7. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
    8. To engage in: make war.
    9. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
    10. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    11. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    12. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    13. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    14. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    15. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    16. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    17. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    18. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    19. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    20. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    21. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    22. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    23. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    24. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    25. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    26. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    27. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
    2. To compose: make verses.
    3. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
    4. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
    5. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
    6. To engage in: make war.
    7. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
    8. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    9. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    10. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    11. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    12. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    13. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    14. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    15. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    16. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    17. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    18. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    19. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    20. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    21. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    22. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    23. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    24. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    25. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
    2. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
    3. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
    4. To engage in: make war.
    5. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
    6. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    7. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    8. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    9. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    10. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    11. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    12. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    13. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    14. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    15. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    16. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    17. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    18. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    19. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    20. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    21. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    22. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    23. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To engage in: make war.
    2. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
    3. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    4. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    5. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    6. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    7. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    8. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    9. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    10. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    11. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    12. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    13. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    14. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    15. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    16. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    17. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    18. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    19. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    20. To amount to: makes no difference.
  5. To achieve, produce, or attain: made peace between the two sides; not making sense; didn't make the quota.
    1. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
    2. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
    3. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
    4. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    5. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    6. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    7. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    8. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    9. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    10. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    11. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    12. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    13. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    14. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    15. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    16. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    17. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    18. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
    2. To reach in time: just made the plane.
    3. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    4. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    5. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    6. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    7. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    8. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    9. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    10. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    11. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    12. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    13. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    14. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    15. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
    2. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
    3. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    4. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    5. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    6. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    7. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    8. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    9. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    10. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    11. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    12. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    13. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
    2. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
    3. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
    4. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    5. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    6. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    7. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    8. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    9. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    10. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    11. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
    2. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
    3. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    4. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    5. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    6. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    7. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    8. To amount to: makes no difference.
  6. To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.
  7. To develop into: will make a fine doctor.
    1. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
    2. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
    3. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
    4. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    5. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    6. To amount to: makes no difference.
    1. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
    2. To add up to: Two and two make four.
    3. To amount to: makes no difference.
  8. To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset
  9. To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.
  10. To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.
  11. To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.
  12. Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v.   intr.
  1. To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.
  2. To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.
  3. To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.
  4. To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.
  5. Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.
  6. To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
  7. To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

n.  
  1. The act or process of making; manufacturing.
  2. The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.
  3. The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.
  4. A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.
  5. The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.
  6. Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?
  7. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
  8. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.
  9. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
  10. To understand: could not make out what she said.
  11. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
  12. To fill in (a form, for example).
  13. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
  14. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
  15. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
  16. Slang
    1. To neck; pet.
    2. To have sexual intercourse.
    3. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
    4. To apply cosmetics.
    5. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
    6. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
  17. To redo; renovate.
  18. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.
  19. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
  20. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.
    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
    2. To apply cosmetics.
    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
  21. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.
    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
  22. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
  23. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
  24. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
  25. To set in order: make up a room.
  26. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.
  27. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
  28. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for
  1. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
  2. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.
make off
To depart in haste; run away.
make out
  1. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
  2. To understand: could not make out what she said.
  3. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
  4. To fill in (a form, for example).
  5. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
  6. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
  7. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
  8. Slang
    1. To neck; pet.
    2. To have sexual intercourse.
make over
  1. To redo; renovate.
  2. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.
make up
  1. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
  2. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.
    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
    2. To apply cosmetics.
    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
  3. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.
    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
  4. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
  5. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
  6. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
  7. To set in order: make up a room.
  8. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.
make with Slang
  1. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
  2. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Idiom(s):
make a clean breast of
To confess fully.

Idiom(s):
make a face
To distort the features of the face; grimace.

Idiom(s):
make a go of
To achieve success in: have made a go of the business.

Idiom(s):
make away with
  1. To carry off; steal.
  2. To use up or consume.
  3. To kill or destroy.

Idiom(s):
make believe
To pretend.

Idiom(s):
make bold
To venture: I will not make so bold as to criticize such a scholar.

Idiom(s):
make book
To accept bets on a race, game, or contest.

Idiom(s):
make do
To manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.

Idiom(s):
make ends meet
To manage so that one's means are sufficient for one's needs.

Idiom(s):
make eyes
To ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun of
To mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good
  1. To carry out successfully: made good his escape.
  2. To fulfill: made good her promise.
  3. To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.
  4. To succeed: made good as a writer.

Idiom(s):
make hay
To turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.

Idiom(s):
make heads or tails of
To understand: I couldn't make heads or tails of the report.

Idiom(s):
make history
To do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history: The first space flight made history.

Idiom(s):
make it
  1. Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.
  2. Slang To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom(s):
make light of
To treat as unimportant: He made light of his illness.

Idiom(s):
make love
  1. To engage in amorous caressing.
  2. To engage in sexual intercourse.

Idiom(s):
make much of
To treat as of great importance.

Idiom(s):
make no bones about
To be forthright and candid about; acknowledge freely: They make no bones about their dislike for each other.

Idiom(s):
make off with
To snatch or steal: made off with the profits.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) day
To give one great pleasure.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) peace with
To bring oneself to accept; reconcile oneself to.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) way
  1. To go forward; advance.
  2. To succeed, especially in making a living.

Idiom(s):
make sail
  1. To begin a voyage.
  2. To set sail.

Idiom(s):
make sense
  1. To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.
  2. To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.

Idiom(s):
make something of
To start a fight or quarrel over.

Idiom(s):
make the grade
To measure up to a given standard.

Idiom(s):
make the most of
To use to the greatest advantage.

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang
  1. To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.
  2. To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.

Idiom(s):
make time
  1. To travel speedily.
  2. To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.
  3. Slang To make progress toward attracting someone: tried to make time with the new neighbor.

Idiom(s):
make tracks Slang
To move or leave in a hurry.

Idiom(s):
make up (one's) mind
To decide between alternatives; come to a definite decision or opinion.

Idiom(s):
make waves Slang
To cause a disturbance or controversy.

Idiom(s):
make way
  1. To give room for passage; move aside.
  2. To make progress.

Idiom(s):
on the make Slang
  1. Aggressively striving for financial or social improvement: a young executive on the make.
  2. Eagerly seeking a sexual partner.

[Middle English maken, from Old English macian; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]

mak'a·ble, make'a·ble adj.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
make the most of (something)
to take advantage of (an opportunity etc) to the greatest possible extent
Example: You'll only get one chance, so you'd better make the most of it!
Arabic: يَسْتَفيد إلى أقْصى حَد
Chinese (Simplified): 尽量利用
Chinese (Traditional): 盡量利用
Czech: využít co nejlépe
Danish: få det bedste ud af
Dutch: goed gebruiken
Estonian: võtma mis võtta annab
Finnish: ottaa kaikki irti
French: profiter (au maximum) de
German: das Beste herausholen aus
Greek: εκμεταλλεύομαι στο έπακρο, αξιοποιώ πλήρως
Hungarian: jól kihasznál vmit
Icelandic: nÿta til fullnustu
Indonesian: memanfaatkan sebanyak-banyaknya
Italian: sfruttare al massimo qualcosa*
Japanese: ~をできるだけ利用する
Latvian: izmantot pēc iespējas labāk
Lithuanian: kiek įmanoma pasinaudoti
Norwegian: utnytte, få mest mulig ut av
Polish: wykorzystywać w pełni
Portuguese (Brazil): aproveitar ao máximo
Portuguese (Portugal): tirar proveito de
Romanian: a profita (la maxi­mum) de
Russian: использовать (что-л.) наилучшим образом
Slovak: využiť čo najlepšie
Slovenian: kar najbolje izkoristiti
Spanish: aprovechar algo al máximo
Swedish: ta vara på, göra det mesta möjliga av
Turkish: olabildiğince iyi yararlanmak
See also: at (the) most, mostly, for the most part, most, "make the most of" in any language

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Browse Nearby Entries:

make shut
make sick
make so bold
make someone see stars
make someone's acquainta..
make someone's day
make someone's flesh cre..
make someone's hair stan..
make something of
make sure
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make the best of a bad jo..
make the best of it
make the dust fly
make the fur fly
make the grade
make the most of
make the rounds
make the scene
make time
make time with
make tracks
make turn
make understood
make unnecessary
make up
make up (one's) mind
make up for
make up one's mind
make up ones mind
make up to
make use of
make vibrant sounds

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