verb phrase · neutral
set a personal best
UK/ˌsɛt ə ˌpɜːsənəl ˈbɛst/US/ˌsɛt ə ˌpɝːsənəl ˈbɛst/SET a PER·son·al BEST
to achieve the best performance you have ever achieved in a sport or event.
Examples
“I set a personal best in the 100m last weekend.”
“She hopes to set a personal best at the next competition.”
“Setting a personal best is a good way to measure progress.”
Band 8 sentence
“Despite a heavy training load this month, I managed to set a personal best in the 1500m, which shows the programme is working.”
Collocations
- set/break a personal best
- achieve a personal best
Word family
Common mistakes
I set personal best last month.→I set a personal best last month.
She broke her season best but not personal best.→She broke her season best but not her personal best.
Say it for a higher band
5improve my time→6achieve a new time→7+set a personal best
Synonyms
achieve a PB
Easily confused
season best
“He recorded a season best at the regional meet.”
Related words
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In Sport & Exercise
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