best (out) of three/five/seven
idiom
—used to say that the winner of a series of games, sets, etc. will be the one that wins the majority of the odd number (three, five, seven, etc.) maximum to be played
The team advanced to the finals by winning the best out of seven semifinal series four games to one.
The winner of a best of five set tennis match must win three sets.
Examples of best (out) of three/five/seven in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Against such a fearsome server this kind of display is always a risk, much more so over best of three sets rather than best of five at the slams, which is absolutely Djokovic’s priority right now.
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Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
The World Series Championship is determined by the best out of seven games, meaning the first team to win four games wins the title.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024
Both fields will play best of three sets with the winner of a set being the first to reach six games (winning by at least two games).
—NBC News, 28 July 2024
The best of three championship series is scheduled for Aug. 5, 7 and 9, if necessary.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2024
The match will be a best of five series, with the winners taking home more than a million dollars and, of course, the title of Dota 2 world champions.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Gauff, the World No. 2, must win the best out of three sets to advance to the next round.
4d ago / 10:13 AM PDT
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Basketball: USA defeats Serbia to open group play
Rohan Nadkarni
USA began its gold medal defense with a win, defeating Serbia 110-84 in its group play opener.
—NBC News, 29 July 2024
With the series now becoming a best of three, the onus of closing this one out will fall on the superstar shoulders of Doncic and Irving.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2024
Each round is the best of three throws, Maruszewski said.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
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Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
The World Series Championship is determined by the best out of seven games, meaning the first team to win four games wins the title.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024
Both fields will play best of three sets with the winner of a set being the first to reach six games (winning by at least two games).
—NBC News, 28 July 2024
The best of three championship series is scheduled for Aug. 5, 7 and 9, if necessary.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2024
The match will be a best of five series, with the winners taking home more than a million dollars and, of course, the title of Dota 2 world champions.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Gauff, the World No. 2, must win the best out of three sets to advance to the next round.
4d ago / 10:13 AM PDT
Copied
Share
Basketball: USA defeats Serbia to open group play
Rohan Nadkarni
USA began its gold medal defense with a win, defeating Serbia 110-84 in its group play opener.
—NBC News, 29 July 2024
With the series now becoming a best of three, the onus of closing this one out will fall on the superstar shoulders of Doncic and Irving.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2024
Each round is the best of three throws, Maruszewski said.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near best (out) of three/five/seven
Cite this Entry
“Best (out) of three/five/seven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best%20%28out%29%20of%20three%2Ffive%2Fseven. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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