Meaning & use

bested

verb·Everyday

Last updated

Defeated or outperformed someone in a contest, argument, or comparison.

See it in a sentence

The underdog bested the reigning champion in three straight rounds.

She bested her own personal record at the marathon.

A note on using this word

"Bested" is the past tense of the verb "best," which turns the superlative adjective "best" into an action word meaning to outdo someone.

Words with a similar meaning

beatdefeated

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

lost to

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bested”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.