German word

bestenfalls

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbɛstn̩ˈfals/

Meaning

  • adverbat most

Example

Wir haben bestenfalls zehn Minuten.

We have ten minutes at most.

Illustration for bestenfalls (at most)

More examples

Bei schlechtem Empfang verschiebt sich das Meeting bestenfalls um zehn Minuten.

With poor reception, the meeting will be delayed by at most ten minutes.

Core concept

A narrow gate admits only the most favorable scenario as the outer limit of expectation.

Common phrases

  • bestenfalls zehn Minuten

    at most ten minutes

  • bestenfalls ein paar Minuten

    at most a few minutes

Similar words

im besten Fall: If everything goes ideally, this is the greatest possible extent.
höchstens: Indicates the highest possible number, amount, or length of time.
allenfalls: At most, while suggesting that even this extent may not occur.
allerhöchstens: Indicates an exceptionally strict upper limit in rare usage.

Definition in German

Im besten Fall, maximal; zeigt an, dass etwas höchstens so zu erwarten ist.

Word origin

The adverb bestenfalls developed from the phrase im besten Fall through the fusion of its meaningful parts into one word.

Usage tips

  • Bestenfalls can introduce a limit on quantity, as in bestenfalls zehn Minuten, where English uses 'at most' rather than only 'at best'.

Other meanings

  • at bestadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Bestfallbest casenoun
  • bestmöglichbest possibleadjective

Word lists with this word