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DEFINITIONS1

1. 1

   the best or worst thing has not happened yet

   Synonyms and related words

   ---

   Relating to the future

   future

   potential

   prospect

   ...

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Definition and synonyms of the best / worst is yet to come from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.

This is the British English definition of the best / worst is yet to come.View American English definition of the best / worst is yet to come.

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See also main entry: come​See also main entry: come​

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Asked 11 years, 10 months ago

Viewed 63k times

And the best is yet to come.

In the above sentence, to be to means "will", yet means "already". So, does the sentence mean the best has already come or that it will come?

• meaning-in-context
• adverbs

RegDwigнt

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asked Jan 1, 2011 at 9:50

lovespringlovespring

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5

• Do you mean "'to be' means 'will'" in this sentence? If so, I don't agree. The sentence is saying "the best has not come now or before now". It implies, then, that the best will come in the future, but the tense and understood meaning of the verb is definitely the present.

  Jan 1, 2011 at 16:33

• @Kosmonaut: He means "to be to (verb)" refers to the future, which is correct. Usually a simple statement such as "I am to accompany you" implies a formal future obligation.

  Jan 1, 2011 at 22:23

• @Jon Purdy: It implies a future obligation, but that doesn't mean future tense is actually embedded into the verb. You can also say "I am supposed to accompany you" which also implies a future obligation. That alone doesn't mean the actual tense of the verb is future. There are cases where the future tense is directly expressed with a present tense, for example, "I am coming with you tomorrow". I think this example is a future tense, but is different from the examples we are discussing. I know it is a nitpicky point, but that is all I was trying to say.

  Jan 1, 2011 at 23:54

• i think 'refers to the future' = 'future tense', is it right?

  Jan 2, 2011 at 1:17

• Basically, yes.

  Jan 2, 2011 at 7:51

1 Answer

"Yet" means "up to and including now", even when it's used with "to be to [verb]". So the best has been coming for a while, and it continues to come, but has not arrived yet.

The best is yet to come. (= The best has not come, but it will.)

Another construction with the same meaning is "to have yet to [verb]":

I have yet to read the book you lent me. (= I have not read it yet.)

answered Jan 1, 2011 at 10:17

Jon PurdyJon Purdy

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3

• Another way of saying this is "you ain't seen nothing yet".

  Jan 1, 2011 at 19:24

• so, 'the best is yet to come = the best is to come' ?

  Jan 2, 2011 at 1:15

• @lovespring: Right, but "the best is yet to come" implies you don't know when the best will come, or aren't being specific about it. This is an idiomatic phrase. Saying "the best is to come" leaves people waiting for you to say when, for example: "the most fun is to be had around the end of the festival".

  Jan 2, 2011 at 7:56

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