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had best

 - 6 dictionary results
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best

  [best]
Use had best in a Sentence
–adjective, superl. of good with better as compar.
1. of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students.
2. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way.
3. largest; most: the best part of a day.
–adverb, superl. of well with better as compar.
4. most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success: an opera role that best suits her voice.
5. in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination): best-suited; best-known; best-loved.
–noun
6. something or someone that is best: They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.
7. a person's finest clothing: It's important that you wear your best.
8. a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often prec. by at).
9. a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often prec. by at).
10. the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often prec. by at): cabinetmaking at its best.
11. the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make: Their best fell far short of excellence.
12. a person's best wishes or kindest regards: Please give my best to your father.
–verb (used with object)
13. to get the better of; defeat; beat: He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.
—Idioms
14. all for the best, for the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage: At the time it was hard to realize how it could be all for the best. Also, for the best.
15. as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances: We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.
16. at best, under the most favorable circumstances: You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.
17. get or have the best of,
a. to gain the advantage over.
b. to defeat; subdue: His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.
18. had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to: You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.
19. make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible: to make the best of a bad situation.
20. with the best, on a par with the most capable: He can play bridge with the best.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME beste, OE betst, best; c. D best, OHG bezzist (G best), ON bezt, Goth batists. See better 1 , -est
Had
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have

  [hav; unstressed huhv, uhv; for 26 usually haf] verb and auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person have, 2nd have or (Archaic) hast, 3rd has or (Archaic) hath, present plural have; past singular 1st person had, 2nd had or (Archaic) hadst or had⋅dest, 3rd had, past plural had; past participle had; present participle hav⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to possess; own; hold for use; contain: He has property. The work has an index.
2. to hold, possess, or accept in some relation, as of kindred or relative position: He wanted to marry her, but she wouldn't have him.
3. to get, receive, or take: to have a part in a play; to have news.
4. to experience, undergo, or endure, as joy or pain: Have a good time. He had a heart attack last year.
5. to hold in mind, sight, etc.: to have doubts.
6. to cause to, as by command or invitation: Have him come here at five.
7. to be related to or be in a certain relation to: She has three cousins. He has a kind boss.
8. to show or exhibit in action or words: She had the crust to refuse my invitation.
9. to be identified or distinguished by; possess the characteristic of: He has a mole on his left cheek. This wood has a silky texture.
10. to engage in or carry on: to have a talk; to have a fight.
11. to partake of; eat or drink: He had cake and coffee for dessert.
12. to permit or allow: I will not have any talking during the concert.
13. to assert, maintain, or represent as being: Rumor has it that she's going to be married.
14. to know, understand, or be skilled in: to have neither Latin nor Greek.
15. to beget or give birth to: to have a baby.
16. to hold an advantage over: He has you there.
17. to outwit, deceive, or cheat: We realized we'd been had by an expert con artist.
18. to control or possess through bribery; bribe.
19. to gain possession of: There is none to be had at that price.
20. to hold or put in a certain position or situation: The problem had me stumped. They had him where they wanted him.
21. to exercise, display, or make use of: Have pity on him.
22. to invite or cause to be present as a companion or guest: We had Evelyn and Everett over for dinner. He has his bodyguard with him at all times.
23. to engage in sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object)
24. to be in possession of money or wealth: There are some who have and some who have not.
–auxiliary verb
25. (used with a past participle to form perfect tenses): She has gone. It would have been an enjoyable party if he hadn't felt downcast.
26. to be required, compelled, or under obligation (fol. by infinitival to, with or without a main verb): I have to leave now. I didn't want to study, but I had to.
–noun
27. Usually, haves. an individual or group that has wealth, social position, or other material benefits (contrasted with have-not ).
—Verb phrase
28. have at, to go at vigorously; attack: First he decided to have at his correspondence.
—Idioms
29. had better or best, ought to: You'd better go now, it's late.
30. had rather. rather (def. 7).
31. have done, to cease; finish: It seemed that they would never have done with their struggle.
32. have had it,
a. to become weary of or disgusted with whatever one has been doing: I've been working like a fool, but now I've had it.
b. to suffer defeat; fail: He was a great pitcher, but after this season he'll have had it.
c. to have missed a last opportunity: He refused to take any more excuses and told them all that they'd had it.
d. to become unpopular or passé: Quiz shows have had it.
33. have it coming, to merit or deserve: When they lost their fortune, everyone said that they had it coming.
34. have it in for, to plan or wish to do something unpleasant to; hold a grudge against: She has it in for intelligent students who fail to use their abilities.
35. have it out, to come to an understanding or decision through discussion or combat: We've been in disagreement about this for a long time, and I think we should have it out, once and for all.
36. have on,
a. to be clothed in; be wearing: She had on a new dress.
b. to have arranged or planned: What do you have on for Christmas?
c. to tease (a person); make the butt of a joke. Compare put (def. 35).
37. have to do with,
a. to be connected or associated with: Your lack of confidence probably had a lot to do with your not getting the job.
b. to deal with; be concerned with: I will have nothing to do with their personal squabbles.
38. to have and to hold, to possess legally; have permanent possession of: The house, with the mortgage finally paid, was at last their own to have and to hold.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME haven, habben, OE habban; c. G haben, ON hafa, Goth haban to have; perh. akin to heave

Synonyms:
1. Have, hold, occupy, own, possess mean to be, in varying degrees, in possession of something. Have, being the most general word, admits of the widest range of application: to have money, rights, discretion, a disease, a glimpse, an idea; to have a friend's umbrella. To hold is to have in one's grasp or one's control, but not necessarily as one's own: to hold stakes. To occupy is to hold and use, but not necessarily by any right of ownership: to occupy a chair, a house, a position. To own is to have the full rights of property in a thing, which, however, another may be holding or enjoying: to own a house that is rented to tenants. Possess is a more formal equivalent for own and suggests control, and often occupation, of large holdings: to possess vast territories. 3. obtain, gain, secure, procure.

Antonyms:
1. lack.

Usage note:
See of.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To had best
have   (hāv)   
v.   had (hād), hav·ing, has (hāz)

v.   tr.

    1. To be in possession of: already had a car.

    2. To possess as a characteristic, quality, or function: has a beard; had a great deal of energy.

    3. To possess or contain as a constituent part: a car that has air bags.

    4. To come into possession of; acquire: Not one copy of the book was to be had in the entire town.

    5. To receive; get: I had a letter from my cousin.

    6. To accept; take: I'll have the peas instead of the spinach.

    7. To suffer from: have defective vision.

    8. To be subject to the experience of: had a difficult time last winter.

    9. To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion: had my assistant run the errand.

    10. To cause to be in a specified place or state: had the guests in the dining room; had everyone fascinated.

    11. To place at a disadvantage: Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.

    12. Informal To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception: They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.

    13. Informal To influence by dishonest means; bribe: an incorruptible official who could not be had.

    14. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    15. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

  2. To occupy a particular relation to: had many disciples.

  3. To possess knowledge of or facility in: has very little Spanish.

  4. To hold in the mind; entertain: had doubts about their loyalty.

  5. To use or exhibit in action: have compassion.

    1. To come into possession of; acquire: Not one copy of the book was to be had in the entire town.

    2. To receive; get: I had a letter from my cousin.

    3. To accept; take: I'll have the peas instead of the spinach.

    4. To suffer from: have defective vision.

    5. To be subject to the experience of: had a difficult time last winter.

    6. To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion: had my assistant run the errand.

    7. To cause to be in a specified place or state: had the guests in the dining room; had everyone fascinated.

    8. To place at a disadvantage: Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.

    9. Informal To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception: They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.

    10. Informal To influence by dishonest means; bribe: an incorruptible official who could not be had.

    11. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    12. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

    1. To suffer from: have defective vision.

    2. To be subject to the experience of: had a difficult time last winter.

    3. To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion: had my assistant run the errand.

    4. To cause to be in a specified place or state: had the guests in the dining room; had everyone fascinated.

    5. To place at a disadvantage: Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.

    6. Informal To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception: They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.

    7. Informal To influence by dishonest means; bribe: an incorruptible official who could not be had.

    8. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    9. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

    1. To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion: had my assistant run the errand.

    2. To cause to be in a specified place or state: had the guests in the dining room; had everyone fascinated.

    3. To place at a disadvantage: Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.

    4. Informal To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception: They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.

    5. Informal To influence by dishonest means; bribe: an incorruptible official who could not be had.

    6. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    7. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

  9. To permit; allow: I won't have that kind of behavior in my house.

  10. To carry on, perform, or execute: have an argument.

    1. To place at a disadvantage: Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.

    2. Informal To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception: They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.

    3. Informal To influence by dishonest means; bribe: an incorruptible official who could not be had.

    4. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    5. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

    1. To procreate (offspring): wanted to have a child.

    2. To give birth to; bear: She's going to have a baby.

  13. To partake of: have lunch.

  14. To be obliged to; must: We simply have to get there on time.

  15. To engage in sexual intercourse with.

v.   aux.
Used with a past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses indicating completed action: The troublemaker has gone for good. I regretted that I had lost my temper. They will have finished by the time we arrive.
n.  
One enjoying especially material wealth: "Almost overnight, there was a new and widespread hostility on the part of the haves toward the have-nots" (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.)
Phrasal Verbs:
have at
To attack.
have on

  1. To wear: had on red shoes.

  2. To be scheduled: We have a dinner party on for Friday.

Phrasal Verb(s):
have atTo attack.
have on

  1. To wear: had on red shoes.

  2. To be scheduled: We have a dinner party on for Friday.


Idiom(s):
had better/best Usage Problem To be wise or obliged to; should or must: He had better do what he is told. You had best bring a raincoat in this weather.

Idiom(s):
have done withTo stop; cease: Have done with your quibbling!

Idiom(s):
have had it Informal

  1. To have endured all that one can: I've had it with their delays.

  2. To be in a state beyond remedy, repair, or salvage: That coat has had it.

  3. To have done everything that is possible or that will be permitted.


Idiom(s):
have it

  1. To assert; maintain: Rumor has it that he quit.

  2. To think and act with respect to (something being considered): Have it your way.

  3. To gain a victory in a voice vote: The ayes have it.


Idiom(s):
have it in for (someone)To intend to harm, especially because of a grudge.

Idiom(s):
have it outTo settle decisively, especially by means of an argument or a discussion.

Idiom(s):
have (something) comingTo deserve what one receives: You had that reprimand coming for a very long time.

Idiom(s):
have to do withTo be concerned or associated with.

[Middle English haven, from Old English habban; see kap- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: The idioms had better and had best resemble an auxiliary verb in that their form never changes to show person or tense and that they cannot follow another verb in a phrase. In informal speech, people tend to omit had, especially with had better, as in You better do it. In formal contexts and in writing, however, had or its contraction must be preserved: You had better do it or You'd better do it. See Usage Note at rather.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

have 
O.E. habban "to own, possess," from P.Gmc. *khaf- (cf. O.N. hafa, O.S. hebbjan, O.Fris. habba, Ger. haben, Goth. haban "to have"), from PIE *kap- "to grasp" (see capable). Not related to L. habere, despite similarity in form and sense; the L. cognate is capere "seize." O.E. second pers. sing. pres. hæfst, third pers. sing. pres. hæfð became M.E. hast, hath, while O.E. -bb- became -v- in have. The p.p. had developed from O.E. gehæfd. Sense of "possess, have at one's disposal" (I have a book) is a shift from older languages, where the thing possessed was made the subject and the possessor took the dative case (e.g. L. est mihi liber "I have a book," lit. "there is to me a book"). Used as an auxiliary in O.E., too (esp. to form present perfect tense); the word has taken on more functions over time; Mod.Eng. he had better would have been O.E. him (dat.) wære betere. To have to for "must" (1579) is from sense of "possess as a duty or thing to be done" (O.E.). Have-not "poor person" first recorded 1836. Phrase have a nice day first attested 1971. You never had it so good (1946) was said to be the stock answer to any complaints about U.S. Army life. Phrase have (noun), will (verb) is from 1954, originally from comedian Bob Hope, in the form Have tux, will travel; Hope described it as typical of vaudevillians' ads in "Variety," indicating a willingness to perform anywhere, any time.

best 
O.E., reduced by assimilation of -t- from earlier O.E. betst, originally superlative of bot "remedy, reparation," the root word now only surviving in to boot, though its comparative, better, and superlative, best, transferred to good (and in some cases well). From P.Gmc. root *bat-, with comp. *batizon and superl. *batistaz. The verb "to get the better of" is from 1863. Best-seller is from 1889; best friend was in Chaucer (c.1374). Best girl is first attested 1887 in a Texas context; best man is 1814, originally Scottish, replacing groomsman.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Best (běst), Charles Herbert. 1899-1978.

American-born Canadian physiologist noted for the discovery and successful clinical application of insulin.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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