most

most [ moust ] function word, quantifier ***

Most is the superlative form of much and many and can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb (before an adjective or another adverb):

a most interesting lecture

the question that is asked most often. (with a verb):

Love is what these children need most. (after the ):

Angie looks the most like her father.

as a determiner (before a noun):

Most stores will be closed on Christmas. (after the ):

Which athlete won the most medals?

as a pronoun:

All the victims were male, and most were between the ages of 15 and 25. (after the ):

We all ate a lot, but Ashley ate the most. (followed by of ):

Most of my friends live in this area.

1. ) the largest part or the majority the largest part of something, or the majority of people or things:

Most people think of robots as machines that look like people.

Most business meetings are held at the company's main office.

A few of the moths are gray, but most are white.

most of: Most of us enjoy shopping.

Johnson spent most of his life in the South.

most days/evenings/weekends etc.: We go sailing most weekends.

most of the time (=usually): Most of the time we sit around playing cards.

2. ) => NOTE used for comparing people, places, things, etc. used for saying that someone or something has more of a particular quality than any other person or thing:

Zurich is Switzerland's most important city.

The English Patient was one of the most successful movies ever made.

Who do you think is most likely to win the next presidential election?

Even the most carefully prepared plans sometimes go wrong.

easily/by far the most: My time in the navy was by far the most exciting period of my life.

3. ) the largest amount

a ) used for referring to a larger amount or number than any other:

The fairest system is one where those who earn most pay most tax.

the most: It's a competition to see who could drink the most beer in the shortest time.

b ) the largest amount or number that is possible:

the most: The most that we can do is to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

To get the most benefit from your training program, read all the documentation carefully.

We chose the option that would help the most people.

4. ) happening most

a ) to a greater degree than anyone or anything else:

the most: Eric had changed the most of the three children since I'd seen them last.

most of all: What I want most of all is to spend more time with my little girl.

b ) more often, or for a longer period of time than anyone or anything else:

the most: It was Aunt Margaret who complained the most.

5. ) very FORMAL used for emphasizing a particular quality:

We spent a most enjoyable afternoon wandering through the park.

The landscapes are most beautifully painted in oils.

6. ) almost AMERICAN INFORMAL used before words such as everything or everywhere for saying that something is true about almost everyone or everything:

The iced tea was very sweet, as it is most everywhere in the South.

at (the) most

used for showing that you are mentioning the largest possible amount, although the real amount may be less:

The whole process will take half an hour at the most.

A new engine would cost, at most, two thousand dollars.

at the very most: She guessed him to be in his late thirties. Forty at the very most.

for the most part

used for saying that something is mainly true but not completely true:

For the most part we were happy to live alongside each other.

In many countries medical services are state-funded and, for the most part, free.

─ opposite LEAST