Level best Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɫɛvəɫ/ /ˈbɛst

LEV-uhl BEST

UK

lˈɛvəl/ /bˈɛst

LEV-uhl BEST

Definition

To try as hard as you possibly can; to make your maximum effort to achieve something.

Usage & Nuances

'Level best' is a somewhat old-fashioned or formal idiom, commonly used to emphasize strong effort. Often found in the phrases 'do your level best' or 'try my level best'. Not the same as 'try hard'—'level best' means your absolute maximum.

• Spanish: mayor esfuerzo - máximo empeño
• Portuguese (BR): máximo esforço
• Portuguese (PT): máximo esforço
• Chinese (Simplified): 尽最大努力
• Chinese (Traditional): 盡最大努力
• Hindi: पूरी कोशिश
• Arabic: قصارى جهده
• Bengali: সর্বোচ্চ চেষ্টা - সবটুকু চেষ্টা
• Russian: всё возможное - максимум усилий
• Japanese: 全力 - 最善
• Vietnamese: hết mình - hết sức
• Korean: 최선을 다하다 - 모든 노력을 다하다
• Turkish: elinden gelenin en iyisi - tüm gücüyle
• Urdu: پورا زور لگا دینا - پوری کوشش کرنا
• Indonesian: hết sức - cố gắng hết mình

Example Sentences

He always does his level best in every exam.

basic

I tried my level best to finish on time.

basic

Please do your level best to help her.

basic

I gave it my level best, but sometimes that's just not enough.

natural

You don't have to win—just do your level best.

natural

Even though we lost, the coach said we played our level best.

natural