at best

2 definitions found

at best - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Best \Best\, n.
     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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the
        case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is
        at best very short.
  
     For best, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are
        now established for best, and not to be mended." --Milton.
  
     To get the best of, to gain an advantage over, whether
        fairly or unfairly.
  
     To make the best of.
     (a) To improve to the utmost; to use or dispose of to the
         greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry their
         commodities where they can make the best of them."
         --Bacon.
     (b) To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to
         make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
         [1913 Webster]

at best - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  at best
      adv 1: under the best of conditions; "at best we'll lose only
             the money" [syn: at best, at the best] [ant: at the  worst
             , at worst]