worst

Worst is the superlative form of the adjective bad in English. It is used to indicate the lowest quality, the most negative outcome, or the most unfavorable option within a defined group. The comparative form is worse, and the positive form is bad. The word has Old English origins and has been part of the language since medieval times.

As an attributive or predicative adjective, worst precedes or follows a noun or clause: “the worst day,” “this is the worst option.” It can also function as an adverb in some constructions, especially in comparisons within a group: “She performed worst of all” or “They did worst when under pressure.” However, many speakers also say “they did worse” in ordinary speech. The expressions “at worst” and “the worst-case scenario” are common ways to describe the most negative possibility. The phrase “the worst” can also be used as a noun to refer to the most undesirable person or thing, as in “the worst among them.”

The word is primarily used to convey negative assessment, often in everyday critique, journalism, entertainment, and analysis. Its usage requires careful comparison within a specified set, to avoid ambiguity about what is being judged as the least favorable.

See also: worse, bad, severity, negative, grammar notes.