make the best of

verb

To derive what limited advantage one can (from an unpleasant outcome or situation).

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make the most of
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Meanings

verbmake the best of (third-person singular simple present makes the best of, present participle making the best of, simple past and past participle made the best of)

present singular third person makes the best of · participle present making the best of · participle past made the best of · past made the best of

  1. idiomaticTo derive what limited advantage one can (from an unpleasant outcome or situation).

    So make the best of this test and don't ask why It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

    1997, Green Day, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”, in Nimrod, Reprise Records
  2. idiomaticTo use (a resource) as well as possible; to be resourceful.

    Synonyms: make the most of

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo use (a resource) as well as possible; to be resourceful.

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make the most of
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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