Great vs. Best: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 29, 2023
"Great" refers to something that is above average or exceptional, but not necessarily the finest. "Best" denotes the highest quality or degree among all; it is comparative and superlative. A movie can be great, but only one can be the best.
Key Differences
"Great" is an adjective that signifies something is much better than average in quality, size, or performance. "Best," on the other hand, is the superlative form of "good" and suggests that something is at the pinnacle in terms of quality, performance, or suitability. A great singer impresses the audience, but the best singer wins the competition.
The word "great" can be used more loosely and doesn't have to denote comparison with other entities. "Best" implies a comparison and signifies being at the top when ranked among others. A person can be a great athlete based on talent, but to be the best, one must outperform all competitors.
"Great" can refer to multiple aspects such as size, extent, or emotional intensity, apart from just quality. "Best" is almost always tied to the quality of something and is an absolute term that leaves no room for ambiguity. For example, a great novel can be lengthy and intense, but the best novel is unmatched in quality.
In grammar, "great" is a simple adjective, whereas "best" serves as both an adjective and an adverb. While you can say that someone is doing great, saying someone is doing best would imply that the person is outperforming all others in that particular activity.
In summary, "great" is a versatile word indicating something above average or large in scope but does not imply being the ultimate. "Best" is definitive, making a clear claim of superiority, and involves a comparative element. A great effort is commendable, but the best effort surpasses all others.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Above average, large, or extreme.
Highest in quality, degree, or performance.
Comparative Element
Generally not comparative.
Explicitly comparative and superlative.
Grammatical Role
Usually an adjective.
Serves as both an adjective and an adverb.
Context of Usage
Can be used loosely.
Specific and makes a strong claim.
Flexibility
Applies to multiple dimensions (size, quality).
Typically applies to quality.
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Great and Best Definitions
Great
Significantly above average in quality.
She is a great musician.
Best
Highest in quality or excellence.
She is the best musician in town.
Great
Very large in size, extent, or intensity
A great pile of rubble.
A great storm.
Best
Most enjoyable or desirable.
This is the best movie I've ever seen.
Great
Of a larger size than other, similar forms
The great anteater.
Best
Highest in skill or achievement.
He is the best chess player in the world.
Great
Large in quantity or number
A great throng awaited us.
Best
Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality; most excellent
The best performer.
The best grade of ore.
Great
Extensive in time or distance
A great delay.
A great way off.
Best
Most satisfactory, suitable, or useful; most desirable
The best solution.
The best time for planting.
Great
Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent
A great crisis.
Great anticipation.
Best
Greatest; most
He spoke for the best part of an hour.
Great
Of outstanding significance or importance
A great work of art.
Best
Most highly skilled
The best doctor in town.
Great
Chief or principal
The great house on the estate.
Best
In a most excellent way; most creditably or advantageously.
Great
Superior in quality or character; noble
A great man who dedicated himself to helping others.
Best
To the greatest degree or extent; most
"He was certainly the best hated man in the ship" (W. Somerset Maugham).
Great
Powerful; influential
One of the great nations of the West.
Best
One that surpasses all others.
Great
Eminent; distinguished
A great leader.
Best
The best part, moment, or value
The best is still to come. Let's get the best out of life.
Great
Very good; first-rate
We had a great time at the dance.
Best
The optimum condition or quality
Look your best. She was at her best in the freestyle competition.
Great
Very skillful
She is great at algebra.
Best
One's nicest or most formal clothing.
Great
Enthusiastic
A great lover of music.
Best
The supreme effort one can make
Doing our best.
Great
Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination
A great-granddaughter.
Best
One's warmest wishes or regards
Give them my best.
Great
(Archaic) Pregnant.
Best
To get the better of; beat
"I'm a rough customer, I expect, but I know when I'm bested" (Nathanael West).
Great
Pl. greats or great One that is great
A composer considered among the greats.
Best
Most; largest.
Unpacking took the best part of a week.
Great
A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.
Best
Most superior; most favorable.
In my opinion, mushrooms are the best pizza toppings.
Great
A similar division of other organs.
Best
To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
Great
Very well
Got along great with the teacher.
Best
(uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.
I did my best.
My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.
Great
Used as an intensive with certain adjectives
A great big kiss.
Best
(uncountable) One's best behavior.
I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I'm nice to her, so I better be on my best.
Great
(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional
Best
(countable) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.
Even the best of us makes mistakes.
We're the best of friends.
Great
Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.
A great storm is approaching our shores.
A great assembly
A great wait
Best
To surpass in skill or achievement.
Great
Title referring to an important leader.
Alexander the Great
Best
(transitive) To beat in a contest.
Great
Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.
The great auk
Best
Had best.
It's getting late. You best get on home.
Great
(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.
Dinner was great.
Best
Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities.
When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.
Great
Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
A dirty great smack in the face
Great Scott!
Best
Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject.
Great
(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]
Great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather
Best
Most; largest; as, the best part of a week.
Great
Pregnant; large with young; full of.
Great with child
Great with hope
Best
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.
Great
Intimate; familiar.
Best
In the highest degree; beyond all others.
He prayeth best, who loveth bestAll things both great and small.
Great
Extreme or more than usual.
Great worry
Best
To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
Had we best retire? I see a storm.
Had I not best go to her?
Great
Of significant importance or consequence; important.
A great decision
Best
Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
Great
(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.
A great deed
A great nature
A great history
Best
To get the better of.
Great
Impressive or striking.
A great show of wealth
Best
The supreme effort one can make;
They did their best
Great
Much in use; favoured.
Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.
Best
The person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others;
He could beat the best of them
Great
(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.
A great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.
Best
Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
Great
Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
What a great buffoon!
He's not a great one for reading.
A great walker
Best
Get the better of;
The goal was to best the competition
Great
(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.
A great carpenter
You are great at singing.
Best
(superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities;
The best film of the year
The best solution
The best time for planting
Wore his best suit
Great
Expression of gladness and content about something.
Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.
Best
(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;
It would be better to speak to him
The White House thought it best not to respond
Great
Sarcastic inversion thereof.
Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.
Best
In a most excellent way or manner;
He played best after a couple of martinis
Great
A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.
Best
It would be sensible;
You'd best stay at home
Great
(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
Best
From a position of superiority or authority;
Father knows best
I know better.
Great
(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
My three-greats grandmother.
Best
Most suitable or appropriate.
This is the best route to take.
Great
(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.
Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.
Best
Most advantageous or effective.
The best method for solving the problem is...
Great
Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.
Great
Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.
Great
Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.
Great
Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.
Great
Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.
Great
Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.
He doth object I am too great of birth.
Great
Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.
Great
Pregnant; big (with young).
The ewes great with young.
Great
More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.
We have allGreat cause to give great thanks.
Great
Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.
Great
The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.
Great
Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;
A great juicy steak
A great multitude
The great auk
A great old oak
A great ocean liner
A great delay
Great
More than usual;
Great expectations
Great worry
Great
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;
Our distinguished professor
An eminent scholar
A great statesman
Great
Of major significance or importance;
A great work of art
Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century
Great
Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;
A great crisis
Had a great stake in the outcome
Great
Very good;
He did a bully job
A neat sports car
Had a great time at the party
You look simply smashing
Great
Uppercase;
Capital A
Great A
Many medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script
Great
Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;
An avid sports fan
A great walker
An eager beaver
Great
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Great
Large in size or extent.
He built a great empire.
Great
Intense or extreme in degree.
They felt great sorrow.
Great
Distinguished or notable.
Einstein is a great scientist.
Great
Very satisfactory or pleasing.
We had a great time at the party.
FAQs
What does "best" mean?
"Best" means the highest in quality, most suitable, or most effective among all.
Can something be both great and best?
Yes, something can be both great (above average) and the best (highest in quality).
Can "great" be used as an adverb?
Not usually, it's predominantly an adjective.
What does "great" mean?
"Great" means above average in quality, large in size, or intense in degree.
Does "great" always imply a comparison?
No, "great" can be used without necessarily comparing to other things.
Can "best" be used as an adverb?
Yes, "best" can serve as both an adjective and an adverb.
Does "best" always imply a comparison?
Yes, "best" inherently implies a comparison with other things.
Can "great" be used to describe size?
Yes, "great" can describe something that is large in size.
Is "best" always about quality?
Mostly yes, "best" typically refers to the highest quality or suitability.
Is "greatest" the superlative of "great"?
Yes, "greatest" is the superlative form of "great."
Is "great" always about quality?
No, "great" can also refer to size, intensity, and other attributes.
Can "best" be used to describe size?
Not usually, "best" is primarily about quality or suitability.
Is "best" the superlative of "good"?
Yes, "best" is the superlative form of "good."
Can multiple things be "great"?
Yes, many things can be described as "great."
Can multiple things be "best"?
In most contexts, only one thing can be described as the "best."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
