Pronunciation: [bˈɛsts] (IPA) 
The word "bests" is spelled with a silent "t" at the end due to the pronunciation of the vowel before it. The vowel in "bests" is pronounced as a short "e" (IPA symbol: /ɛ/), which gives it the same sound as the word "best." When adding the plural suffix "-s" to "best," the "t" is inserted to maintain the pronunciation of the short "e" and distinguish it from the word "bess" (IPA symbol: /bɛs/), which has a different vowel sound.
Bests is the plural form of the noun "best," which refers to the person or thing that is considered the most excellent or superior among others in a particular category or group. It is used to describe or compare the highest quality, most favorable, or most successful options or choices available.
In a competitive context, bests can refer to the highest achievements or performances of individuals or teams in a specific field. For example, in sports, the bests are often recognized through various accolades, such as awards for the best player, best team, or best performance of the year.
Bests can also be used to represent the superior or most preferred alternatives among a range of options. It signifies the optimal or ideal choices that stand out in terms of quality, value, or suitability. This can apply to any field, such as the bestsellers in literature, the best practices in business, or the best destinations for vacations.
Additionally, bests can be used as a verb, meaning to surpass or outdo others in a particular aspect or performance. It implies the act of excelling or achieving a greater level of success compared to competitors or previous standards.
In conclusion, bests as a noun refers to the highest quality or most excellent examples within a category, while as a verb, it indicates the act of surpassing or excelling in a particular area.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bests" is derived from the word "best", which originates from the Old English word "bæst" and the Proto-Germanic word "*batiz". This word ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhAd-", meaning "good" or "better". Over time, the comparative form "best" was developed, and the plural form "bests" emerged to refer to multiple items or individuals that are considered the best.
