est

1 of 4

abbreviation (1)

1
established
2
estimate; estimated

EST

2 of 4

abbreviation (2)

eastern standard time

-est

3 of 4

adjective suffix or adverb suffix

used to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs of one syllable
fattest
latest
, of some adjectives and adverbs of two syllables
luckiest
oftenest
, and less often of longer ones
beggarliest

-est

4 of 4

verb suffix

variants or -st
used to form the archaic second person singular of English verbs (with thou)
gettest
didst
canst

Word History

Etymology

Adjective suffix or adverb suffix

Middle English, from Old English -st, -est, -ost; akin to Old High German -isto (adjective superlative suffix), Greek -istos

Verb suffix

Middle English, from Old English -est, -ast, -st; akin to Old High German -ist, -ōst, -ēst, 2nd singular ending

Dictionary Entries Near est

Cite this Entry

“Est.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/est. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

-est

1 of 2 adjective suffix or adverb suffix
əst,
ist
used to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs of one syllable
fattest
latest
and of some adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables
luckiest
oftenest

-est

2 of 2 verb suffix
əst,
ist
variants or -st
st
used to form the archaic second person singular of verbs (with thou)
gettest
didst
canst
Etymology

Adjective suffix or adverb suffix

Old English -est, -ost (adjective or adverb suffix)

Verb suffix

Old English -est, -ast (verb suffix)

Medical Definition

EST

abbreviation
electroshock therapy

More from Merriam-Webster on est

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!