English Meaning & Definitions
A polite expression of goodwill, typically used at the end of a letter, email, or card, or when parting from someone.
- “I am writing to thank you for your help; best wishes for your future endeavors.”
- “Please give my best wishes to your family when you see them.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “best wishes”.
The phrase is a compound of the superlative adjective 'best' (from Old English 'betst') and the plural noun 'wishes' (from Old English 'wysc'). It evolved as a shortened, polite formula for 'I send you my best wishes,' becoming a standard epistolary closing in the 19th century to express goodwill without the formality of 'sincerely' or the intimacy of 'love.'
Think of it as the 'best' possible 'wishes' you could send to someone you respect but don't know intimately.
Frequently Asked Questions About “best wishes”
1. What is the meaning of “best wishes” in English?
In English, best wishes (idiom) is defined as: “A polite expression of goodwill, typically used at the end of a letter, email, or card, or when parting from someone.”.
2. How do you use “best wishes” in a sentence?
“I am writing to thank you for your help; best wishes for your future endeavors.”
3. What are English synonyms of “best wishes”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “best wishes”?
The phrase is a compound of the superlative adjective 'best' (from Old English 'betst') and the plural noun 'wishes' (from Old English 'wysc'). It evolved as a shortened, polite formula for 'I send you my best wishes,' becoming a standard epistolary closing in the 19th century to express goodwill without the formality of 'sincerely' or the intimacy of 'love.'
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