Most

Most is a versatile English word that functions as a determiner, pronoun, and adverb. It expresses the greatest quantity or degree within a set or category, or denotes the majority in a given context. As a determiner, it precedes a noun to indicate the largest share: the most people attending. As a pronoun, it can stand for the greatest number or amount, as in Most were pleased. As an adverb, it modifies adjectives and other adverbs to indicate extent: She is most excited about the news or Most players were injured. In standard usage, most forms the superlative degree of much and many, and pairs with more as the comparative. The opposite form is least.

Etymology and scope: Most derives from Old English mest, maest, from Proto-Germanic *maistaz, related to Dutch meest and German meist. It has functioned as the default superlative for quantity and degree in English for centuries, and today covers a wide range of contexts from quantitative comparison to emphasis.

Usage notes: With count nouns, the construction the most marks the largest number: the most students. Without the definite article, most can mean a majority or a large portion: most students pass. The phrase most of introduces a known subset: Most of the time we go by train. As an adverb meaning “very” or “to a high degree,” most is common in informal speech and writing, as in most important, most likely, or most unexpectedly. Opposite forms include least and least likely in comparable constructions.