best wishes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “best wishes” mean?
A polite, conventional expression of goodwill or hope for someone's success or happiness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A polite, conventional expression of goodwill or hope for someone's success or happiness.
A formulaic closing in written communication, especially letters and cards, to convey positive sentiment. More personal than 'sincerely' but less intimate than 'love' or 'affectionately'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. In the UK, it is often shortened to 'best' in very informal emails. In the US, 'best' alone is also common, but 'best wishes' is slightly more formal.
Connotations
Considered warm but professional. In the UK, it may be used more readily in semi-formal contexts than in the US, where 'regards' or 'best regards' might be preferred for business.
Frequency
Highly frequent in both varieties. Possibly more common in British English for closing personal letters to acquaintances.
Grammar
How to Use “best wishes” in a Sentence
Send [someone] best wishes.With best wishes, [Name].Best wishes for [an event/occasion].Please give her my best wishes.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “best wishes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I must best wishes to them for their new venture.
- She best-wishes everyone on their birthday.
American English
- He best wishes his colleagues every holiday season.
- They best-wished us a speedy recovery.
adverb
British English
- He signed the card best-wishes-ly.
- She spoke best-wishingly of their future.
American English
- They ended the call best-wishes-ly.
- The letter was concluded best-wishingly.
adjective
British English
- It was a best-wishes message from the whole team.
- She received a best-wishes card.
American English
- He sent a best-wishes email to the department.
- The best-wishes gesture was appreciated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common as an email sign-off, especially after initial correspondence. Suitable for closing messages to clients or colleagues you don't know well.
Academic
Used in formal correspondence, such as emails to journal editors or letters of recommendation.
Everyday
The standard closing for greeting cards (birthday, get-well), personal letters, and informal emails.
Technical
Rare in technical prose. May appear in the cover letter of a technical report or in project communication.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “best wishes”
- Using 'Best wishes' in a very formal, legal document (use 'Yours faithfully' or 'Respectfully yours').
- Incorrectly punctuating as 'Best Wishes' (capitalization of 'wishes' is incorrect unless starting a sentence).
- Using it to open a letter instead of closing it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal. It is appropriate for both personal letters and professional emails, especially where a warm but respectful tone is needed.
No, it is exclusively a valediction (closing). To open an email with a similar sentiment, use phrases like 'I hope this email finds you well.'
'Best wishes' is slightly warmer and more personal. 'Kind regards' is slightly more formal and standard for business. 'Best regards' is a blend of the two.
Yes, the standard format is 'Best wishes,' followed by a comma on the line below, then your name on the next line. In continuous text (e.g., 'Send her my best wishes.'), no special comma is needed.
A polite, conventional expression of goodwill or hope for someone's success or happiness.
Best wishes: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbest ˈwɪʃ.ɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbest ˈwɪʃ.ɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Best wishes are all I can offer.”
- “Send my best wishes their way.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine writing 'BEST' at the top of a list of good things you WISH for someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOODWILL IS A GIFT (you 'send' or 'extend' wishes).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Best wishes' LEAST appropriate?