would like best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would like best" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a preference or desire for something among multiple options. Example: "Out of all the desserts, I would like best the chocolate cake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

That's what I would like best of all.

The New Yorker

"Which one do you think a boy would like best?" he said.

The New Yorker

WITH little more than 15 months to go before leaving office, President Kim Dae Jung of South Korea is wondering how he would like best to be remembered.

The Economist

The people of New Zealand will vote next month on which of four new union jackless flags they would like best to represent their country.

The Guardian

It's an exchange long delayed: though friendly with Ozawa for years, Murakami assumed the conductor would like best to talk about anything but music, and avoided bringing it up.

The Guardian - Books

I'm still trying to decide what path I would like best, since there are pluses and minuses to all of them.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"It's which job you'd like best".

The New Yorker

What they'd like best is the conversion of the United States.At least the old-English behavioural style, which gave the language the phrase "It isn't cricket", resisted charges of open corruption and political interference.

The Economist

"I don't know which she'd like best," Ms. Shear said yesterday at the Helen Hayes Theater, "though I know what everyone here would like, because it's a very cake-intensive company".

The New York Times

What I'd like best is if Twitter just focuses on keeping the lights on, and adds competitive features that keep Google, Facebook and others on their toes.

TechCrunch

Figure out which one you'd like best.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering choices, use "would like best" to clearly indicate you are asking about a top preference, not just any acceptable option.

Common error

Avoid using "would like best" when a simple preference is sufficient. "Would like" is appropriate when you're offering options without implying one is superior, whereas "would like best" should highlight a clear favorite.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would like best" functions as a verb phrase expressing a conditional preference. It is used to indicate which option is most favored among a set of possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as demonstrated in several examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

33%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would like best" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for expressing a clear preference among several options. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, though particularly prevalent in News & Media and Wiki-based content. When using this phrase, ensure you are truly highlighting a top choice, and not simply offering alternatives. Remember that related phrases like "prefer most" or "favor the most" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prefer most

Focuses directly on preference, omitting the conditional and softening effect of "would like".

desire most

Emphasizes a strong feeling of wanting something above all else.

favor the most

Suggests a comparative assessment leading to a preferred option.

enjoy most

Highlights the aspect of pleasure or satisfaction derived from a particular choice.

appreciate most

Indicates a sense of gratitude or value attached to a specific option.

value most

Stresses the importance or worth placed on a particular selection.

find most appealing

Focuses on the attractive or engaging qualities of an option.

deem most desirable

Implies a considered judgment about the attractiveness of something.

would prefer

Expresses a general preference without necessarily implying it's the 'best' option.

would choose

Simply indicates a selection, without the added emphasis of a top preference.

FAQs

How to use "would like best" in a sentence?

Use "would like best" to express a strong preference among several options. For example, "Which of these options would you like best?" or "I would like the chocolate cake best."

What can I say instead of "would like best"?

You can use alternatives like "prefer most", "favor the most", or "enjoy most" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "would like the best"?

While grammatically understandable, "would like the best" is less common than "would like best". "Would like best" implies a specific preference from a set of options, while "would like the best" suggests a desire for the highest quality, which is often expressed differently, such as "would like the very best".

What's the difference between "would like best" and "would prefer"?

"Would like best" indicates a top choice from a selection, suggesting a clear favorite. "Would prefer" simply expresses a general preference, without necessarily highlighting it as the absolute favorite.