What does bested mean?
'Bested' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to best', meaning to defeat or outdo someone in a contest, argument, or struggle. It carries a tone slightly more formal and literary than the everyday word 'beat', which makes it a favourite of journalists and writers describing elections, sporting matches, debates, and battles: a challenger 'bested' an incumbent, or an underdog 'bested' the favourite. It can also extend to non-human objects, as when a new product 'bested' its rivals or a performance 'bested' expectations. The word derives from the adjective 'best', the superlative of 'good', so using it literally turns the idea of superiority into an act of victory. Concise and vivid, it implies a clear outcome rather than a narrow margin.
verbPast tense and past participle of the verb 'best': to defeat or outdo someone in a contest, argument, or struggle.
- To defeat or outdo someone in a contest, fight, or competition.
- To surpass or exceed something, such as a record or previous performance.
"The young chess prodigy bested the reigning champion in just thirty moves."
"Despite her inexperience, she bested every rival in the debate tournament."
"The film's opening weekend bested all box-office predictions."
You can be good, better, or best — but only since the 1800s has English let you 'best' someone outright, turning a superlative into a weapon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bested
The verb 'to best' emerged in English in the mid-19th century, formed by converting the existing adjective 'best' — the Old English superlative 'betst' or 'best' of 'good' — into a verb, a common process known as functional shift. The Old English form shares a Germanic root with 'better' and with related words such as 'bet'. Its past tense 'bested' follows regular verb inflection and has been standard ever since the verb was established.
Related word forms
How bested is actually used
Slightly more formal or literary than 'beat', 'bested' often appears in journalism and narrative writing about competitions, elections, and sporting contests. It typically takes a person or team as its object.
Easily confused with bested
'Bested' means defeated or outdone, while 'beasted' is informal slang meaning performed with great energy or intensity.