What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
best
Example
This is the best pizza I've ever had! [best: adjective]
Example
She won the award for best actress in the play. [best: noun]
superlative
Example
The view from the mountaintop was absolutely superlative. [superlative: adjective]
Example
His performance in the concert was a superlative display of talent. [superlative: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Best is more commonly used than superlative in everyday language. Best is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while superlative is less common and tends to be used in more formal or specialized settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between best and superlative?
While best is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, superlative is more formal and often used in academic, literary, or technical contexts.
