perfect

Pronunciation

adjective, noun

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈpɜːfɪkt/, SAMPA: /"p3:fIkt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈpɝːfɪkt/ or /ˈpɝːfɛkt/, SAMPA: /"p3`:fIkt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

verb

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /pəˈfɛkt/, SAMPA: /p@"fEkt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /pɚˈfɛkt/, SAMPA: /p@`"fEkt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive perfect

Comparative more perfect

Superlative most perfect

1. Something that is perfect has no mistakes, problems, or damage.
   • Synonym: flawless

   She answered him in perfect Japanese.

2. Something that is perfect is exactly what was needed or wanted.

   "Here's the knife." "Oh, yes! Thanks, it's perfect."

   That's a perfect example of how to start a business.

3. (grammar) In a perfect tense, a verb is used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

   I believe that in French the passe compose is equivalent to the present perfect tense in English.

Related words

• perfectly
• perfection
• imperfect
• imperfectly
• imperfection
• perfectionist

Verb

Plain form perfect

Third-person singular perfects

Past tense perfected

Past participle perfected

Present participle perfecting

1. (transitive) If you perfect something, you fix all its problems or make it as good as possible.

   Our leaders have perfected the art of sounding good while saying nothing.

Noun

Singular perfect

Plural perfects

1. (grammar) (countable) The perfect is a verb tense used for a situation that is finished before another point in time.

   This verb should be in the present perfect.

• In English, the perfect is formed by using the auxiliary verb have and a past participle.