at best

adverb

under the best of conditions (Freq. 4)

-

at best we'll lose only the money

• Syn: ↑at the best

• Ant: ↑at worst

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at best

Assuming the most favourable conditions

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Main Entry: ↑best

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at best phrase

used for showing that something is not very good by emphasizing that your description of it is the best thing you can say about it

His chances of victory are, at best, uncertain.

The government’s response seems to have been at best confused and at worst dishonest.

Thesaurus: ways of emphasizing how bad something is_synonym

Main entry: best

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taking the most optimistic or favorable view

signs of recovery are patchy at best

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at best

— used to refer to a result, condition, etc., that is the best one possible even though it is not very good

The company won't make a profit this year. At best, they'll break even.

The work won't be finished for another three months at best.

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Main Entry: ↑best

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at ˈbest idiom

used for saying what is the best opinion you can have of sb/sth, or the best thing that can happen, when the situation is bad

•

Their response to the proposal was, at best, cool.

•

We can't arrive before Friday at best.

Main entry: ↑best_idiom