perfect

Having no mistakes, damage, or other problems.

• Your spelling is perfect.
• The old watch is still in perfect condition.
• She got a perfect score on the test.

Similar words: flawless, faultless

Opposites: imperfect, flawed

Common phrases: perfect condition, perfect score, perfect English

Exactly right for what someone wants or needs.

• This size is perfect.
• The little room was perfect for our meeting.
• You would be perfect for this job.

How to use it: perfect for someone/something (These boots are perfect for walking.)

Similar words: ideal, just right

Opposites: unsuitable

Common phrases: perfect for someone, perfect fit, perfect choice

Extremely pleasant and enjoyable in every way.

• We had a perfect day.
• The weather was perfect all week.
• Good food and old friends made it a perfect evening.

Similar words: wonderful, excellent, delightful

Opposites: awful

Common phrases: perfect day, perfect evening, perfect holiday

Describing a verb form that connects an earlier action or situation with a later time.

• We studied the perfect tenses.
• This sentence uses a past perfect verb form.
• Which perfect tense connects a past event with the present?

Common phrases: present perfect tense, past perfect form, perfect aspect

Matching exactly what a particular thing should be.

• Draw a perfect circle.
• The two halves show perfect symmetry.
• His behavior was a perfect example of kindness.

Similar words: exact, true

Common phrases: perfect circle, perfect example, perfect symmetry

A verb form that connects an earlier action or situation with a later time.

• We use the present perfect here.
• Change this sentence into the past perfect.
• The perfect often includes a form of have.

Similar words: perfect tense

Common phrases: the present perfect, the past perfect, use the perfect

To improve something until it is as good as you can make it.

• She perfected her recipe.
• We spent months perfecting the design.
• He practices every day to perfect his technique.

Similar words: refine, improve, polish

Opposites: spoil

Common phrases: perfect a technique, perfect a recipe, perfect something

To complete the legal steps needed to protect or establish a right.

• The lender perfected its lien.
• Her lawyer filed the documents needed to perfect the appeal.
• The creditor must perfect its interest before the deadline.

Common phrases: perfect an appeal, perfect a lien, perfect an interest