best-case scenario
Most favorable result
The best-case scenario is the most favorable possible outcome of a situation: In the best-case scenario, we finish by Friday and come in under budget.
The phrase acknowledges uncertainty while imagining things going as well as they could.
Often used in planning or risk assessment, paired with worst-case scenario to bracket the range of possibilities.
- favorableInclined toward approval
- outcomeFinal result of events
- optimismTendency to expect good
- rosy outlookCheerful expectation of success
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
sunny side · ideal · result · dream come true · counterfactual · thought experiment · possibility · positive · pie in the sky · projection · ceiling · hopes · pinnacle · expectation · what-if · choice · forecast · risk assessment
best-case scenarioworst-case scenario
Most unfavorable possible outcome
worst case · nightmare scenario · doomsday scenario · worst-case · absolute worst