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UK [məʊst] / US [moʊst] adverb, determiner, pronoun

Summary:

Most is the superlative form of much and many and can be used in the following ways: - as an adverb (before an adjective or another adverb): a most interesting lecture ♦ the question that is asked most often. (with a verb): Love is what these children need most. (after "the"): Angie looks the most like her father. - as a determiner (before a noun): Most shops will be closed over the Christmas holiday. (after "the"): Which athlete won the most medals? - as a pronoun: All the victims were male, and most were between the ages of 15 and 25. (after "the"): We all ate a lot, but Ashley ate the most. (followed by "of"): Most of my friends live in this area.
Get it right: most:
Don't use most of before a noun when there is no article or possessive before the noun. Use the pattern most + noun:
Wrong: Most of banks want to have more and more customers.
Right: Most banks want to have more and more customers.
Wrong: Most of information on the Internet is written in English.
Right: Most information on the Internet is written in English. Use the pattern most of before a noun when the noun comes after an article or possessive:
Most of the audience were women. The engineers carry out most of their work on Sundays when traffic is light. Don't use the definite article the before most when there is a noun after most:
Wrong: In Singapore, the most people speak English fluently.
Right: In Singapore, most people speak English fluently.
Wrong: Banning smoking is supported by the most of non-smokers.
Right: Banning smoking is supported by most non-smokers.

1) used for comparing people, places, things etc used for saying that someone or something has more of a particular quality than any other person or thing

Zurich is Switzerland's most important city.

Even the most carefully prepared plans sometimes go wrong.

The English Patient was one of the most successful films ever made.

Who do you think is most likely to win the next presidential election?

easily/by far the most:

My time in the navy was by far the most exciting period of my life.

2) the largest part the largest part of something, or the majority of people or things

Most people think of robots as machines that look like people.

Most business meetings are held at the company's Bristol office.

A few of the moths are grey, but most are white.

most of:

Most of us enjoy shopping.

Johnson spent most of his life in London.

most days/evenings/weekends etc:

We go sailing most weekends.

most of the time (= usually):

Most of the time we sit around playing cards.

3) the largest amount

a) used for referring to a larger amount or number than any other

The fairest system is one where those who earn most pay most tax.

the most:

It's a competition to see who could drink the most beer in the shortest time.

b) the largest amount or number that is possible

the most:

The most that we can do is to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

To get the most benefit from your training programme, read all the documentation carefully.

We chose the option that would help the most people.

4) happening most

a) to a greater degree than anyone or anything else

the most:

The university course that has changed that most in the last ten years is teacher education.

most of all:

What I want most of all is to spend more time with my little girl.

b) more often, or for a longer period of time than anyone or anything else

the most:

It was Auntie Margaret who complained the most.

5) formal very used for emphasizing a particular quality

We spent a most enjoyable afternoon at the races.

The landscapes are most beautifully painted in oils.

6) American informal almost used before words such as "everything" or "everywhere" for saying that something is true about almost everyone or everything

The iced tea was very sweet, as it is most everywhere in the South.

•

at (the) most — used for showing that you are mentioning the largest possible amount, although the real amount may be less

The whole process will take half an hour at the most.

A new engine would cost, at most, two thousand dollars.

at the very most:

She guessed him to be in his late thirties. Forty at the very most.

- for the most part