Usually means: Should; advisable for optimal outcome.
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We found 10 dictionaries that define the word had best:

General (10 matching dictionaries)
  1. had best: Merriam-Webster
  2. had best: Collins English Dictionary
  3. had best: Wiktionary
  4. had best: Dictionary.com
  5. had best: Rhymezone
  6. had best: FreeDictionary.org
  7. had best: Mnemonic Dictionary
  8. had best: TheFreeDictionary.com
  9. had best: Vocabulary.com
  10. had best: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

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Definitions from Wiktionary (had best)

▸ verb:  (modal, auxiliary verb) Had better.

Similar:
do well, ought to, might, ought, must, might could, could, will, might can, could've, more...

Opposite:
had worst, had poorest outcome

Phrases:
had best do, had best do something, more...

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Similar:
do well, ought to, might, ought, must, might could, could, will, might can, could've, more...

Opposite:
had worst, had poorest outcome

Phrases:
had best do, had best do something, more...



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