What is personal best? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of personal best

personal bestnoun
thành tích cá nhân tốt nhất
/ˌpɜːsənl ˈbest//ˌpɜːrsənl ˈbest/

Where does the word personal best come from?

The phrase "personal best" refers to achieving one's best possible performance or outcome in a particular activity or event, based solely on one's own past achievements. It originated in the world of sports, where athletes strive to break their own records and improve upon their previous performances. The term "best" originally referred to the highest score or time attained by any participant in a particular event or competition, but as the focus of athletics shifted from winning against others to improving one's own abilities, the meaning of "best" evolved to describe one's own individual mark. The phrase "personal best" first appeared in print in the early 1960s and gained widespread usage in the Olympics and other major sporting events. Today, it is commonly used in a variety of settings, such as business, academics, and personal achievement, as a way to motivate individuals to strive for continuous improvement and surpass their own past accomplishments.

Example of vocabulary personal bestnamespace

After months of rigorous training, Sarah crushed her personal best in the 5K race, finishing in just 22 minutes and 30 seconds.
In the gym, Jack hit a new personal best in the bench press, lifting an impressive 325 pounds.
During a swim meet, Mia swam a breathtaking 2: in the 200-meter freestyle, smashing her own personal best by almost two seconds.
Mark broke his personal best in the high jump, clearing a height of 6 foot 6 inches, which he had never managed before.
In a crowded basketball game, Emma made a stunning three-pointer from the half-court line, earning her team extra points and beating her previous personal best.