1. best: better than anything or anyone else

例：

The best ice cream in the world is made in Italy. （意大利产的冰淇淋全世界最棒。）

What's the best way to cook sweet potatoes?（番薯怎么做最好吃？）

by far the best/easily the best (=much better than any others)

It was by far the best vacation I've ever had. （这是我过的最棒的一个假期。）

I've read most of his books, but 'Mosquito Coast' is easily his best. （他的书我差不多都读过，这么多本中，《蚊子海岸》最优秀。）

2. greatest: the best and most important that there has ever been

例：

New Yorkers think they live in the greatest city on earth. （纽约人觉得纽约是全世界最好的城市。）

Picasso is generally regarded as the greatest artist of the 20th century. （大家普遍认为，毕加索是20世纪最伟大的艺术家。）

Gorbachev's greatest achievement was ending the Cold War. （戈尔巴乔夫最伟大的功绩就是结束了冷战。）

3. finest: the best and highest quality, or the best and most skillful

例：

Hemingway was the finest American writer of his generation. （同时代的美国作家中，属海明威最优秀。）

The Silver Pavilion is one of the finest examples of Japanese architecture. （京都银阁寺是日本建筑的代表作。）

Many people regard Beethoven's Fifth Symphony as his finest work. （很多人认为贝多芬的《第五交响曲》是他最好的作品。）

4. ideal: the best and most suitable

例：

The ideal candidate will have a degree and at least two years' experience. （应聘者最好有大学文凭以及两年工作经验。）

I'm afraid the accommodation here is far from ideal. （恐怕这儿的住宿条件很不理想。）

5. top: the most skillful, most successful, and most famous

例：

He is definitely one of the world's top golfers. （毫无疑问，他是全世界最顶尖的高尔夫选手之一。）

The prize is to have your hair done at a top New York salon. （优胜者可以去纽约最顶级的沙龙做头发。）

6. number one: the person who is most successful in their company or in the type of work that they do

例：

For three years, he was the company's number one salesman. （连续三年，他都是公司最厉害的销售。）

Sweden's number one model has married American actor Tommy Haines. （好莱坞演员汤米·海恩斯娶了瑞典最顶级的模特为妻。）

7. the:

the place/shop/person/authority etc.: use this to say that something is the best one of its kind

备注：这时候''the''发音发成/ði/。

例：

Manhattan's East Village is the place for exciting nightlife. （曼哈顿东村是过夜生活最好的地方。）

Our guest speaker today is the authority on Chinese politics. （我们今天的演讲嘉宾是对华政策的权威人士。）

8. ultimate: the ultimate person or thing is the very best of their type that there has ever been, and it is hard to believe that anything could ever be better

例：

Monroe was the ultimate Hollywood movie star. （梦露是好莱坞有史以来最棒的电影明星。）

For many people, the Rolling Stones will always be the world's ultimate rock and roll band. （对大部分人来说，滚石永远是世界上最棒的摇滚乐队。）

the ultimate in

Our first-class passengers enjoy the ultimate in luxury and service. （头等舱服务最好也最奢华。）