have the best of it

verb

To gain the advantage in a contest.

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Meanings

verbhave the best of it (third-person singular simple present has the best of it, present participle having the best of it, simple past and past participle had the best of it)

present singular third person has the best of it · participle present having the best of it · participle past had the best of it · past had the best of it

  1. To gain the advantage in a contest.
Cite this entry
APA

have the best of it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20the%20best%20of%20it

MLA

“have the best of it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20the%20best%20of%20it. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have the best of it,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20the%20best%20of%20it.

Source: have the best of it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.