small opinion pole

What does the word ever mean? I hear the phrase "best__ ever" does that mean nothing will ever be as good as this thing or does it mean everything up until now hasn't been the best but it's only going to continue getting even better? I ask because you could use the term "best___yet" which to me says "wow, that was the best___ ever but I have hopes that something even better could happen. Ever, to me, means nothing is ever going to top this so just give up now. What do you think?