best-case

adjective

ˈbes(t)-ˈkās How to pronounce best-case (audio)
: being, relating to, or based on a projection of future events that assumes only the best possible circumstances
a best-case scenario

Examples of best-case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fried is surely hoping for a best-case scenario – pitching on Wednesday night and having his child arrive afterward, making the decision much easier about whether to be in the delivery room or on the mound. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 The Kpler assessment also doesn’t account for an ongoing collapse in refined products, including diesel, whose US price will remain dramatically elevated into 2027 even in a best-case scenario. — David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 In other words, treat 60 miles as a best-case number rather than a promise. — New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026 In a best-case scenario, Oladipo said, someone managing high blood pressure could wear a device that could track cardiovascular strain and alert them if there's a concerning trend. — Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for best-case

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of best-case was in 1972

Rhymes for best-case

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Browse Nearby Words

best boy
best-case
bestead
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Cite this Entry

“Best-case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best-case. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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