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superlative

A superlative is the highest attainable level or degree of something. As an adjective superlative means highest in quality.

When your history test results are superlative, it means you've gotten a perfect score — you've done as well as can be done, if not better than everyone else. There are times, however, when a superlative is an exaggerated expression of praise, as when a movie reviewer gets carried away with compliments and says in January that this is "the best film of the year."

DEFINITIONS OF: superlative

1

adj highest in quality

Synonyms:
greatest, sterling
superior
of high or superior quality or performance

n the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

“so many highest superlatives achieved by man”
Synonyms:
acme, elevation, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tiptop, top
Type of:
degree, level, point, stage
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process

n an exaggerated expression (usually of praise)

“the critics lavished superlatives on it”
Type of:
congratulations, extolment, kudos, praise
an expression of approval and commendation

n the superlative form of an adjective or adverb

“`fastest' is the superlative of the adjective `fast'”
“`least famous' is the superlative degree of the adjective `famous'”
“`most surely' is the superlative of the adverb `surely'”
Synonyms:
superlative degree
Type of:
adjective
a word that expresses an attribute of something
adverb
a word that modifies something other than a noun
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