better
1of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
improved in health; healthier than before.
completely recovered in health.
in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
more: I walked better than a mile to town.
to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better one's grades;to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
Usually betters . those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
Idioms about better
better off,
in better circumstances.
more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
get / have the better of,
to get an advantage over.
to prevail against.
go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
no better than one should be, morally inferior; immoral or amoral: Don't speak to him; he's no better than he should be!
think better of,
to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.
to form a higher opinion of: I think better of him now that he's gone back to college.
Origin of better
1Other words for better
Other words from better
- un·bet·tered, adjective
Words that may be confused with better
- better , bettor
How to use better in a sentence
They’re also going to have to do a much better job of making the case for why they exist so their donors, even in a tight financial time, feel the need to continue to support the work that they do.
VOSD contributor Jared Whitlock requested death certificates in April to see where the virus was moving and to better understand how the county was managing the public health crisis.
Morning Report: County Digs in to Keep COVID Data Private | Voice of San Diego | November 19, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoIronically, with covid-19, there’s probably never been a better opportunity to find someone outside the organization who would gladly take your boss’s place.
It’s hard to get rid of a bad boss. Instead, try a ‘soft coup.’ | Karla Miller | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostThose records could be used to track the virus, compare the accuracy of reported data and better understand how the county was managing the public health crisis.
County Officials Dig in to Keep COVID-19 Info Private | Sara Libby and Jared Whitlock | November 19, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoPeale and his family moved their own home to the basement of the museum, so as to better manage the ever-growing enterprise.
When Science Was the Best Show in America - Issue 93: Forerunners | Lee Alan Dugatkin | November 18, 2020 | Nautilus
If they believe change has bettered their lives, 2016 could be another good day for Republicans.
Voters Remind D.C. That the Economy Still Sucks | Stuart Stevens | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn this case, the embarrassing stumble may have bettered her score.
Carrie Ann Inaba, Justin Bieber & More Celebrity Stumbles (VIDEO) | The Daily Beast Video | October 24, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTHe regarded it simply as a civil war, by which 'the condition of no nation,' as he wrote later, 'was ever bettered.'
Sir Walter Ralegh | William StebbingAt first my change in bodily build and bettered health rendered me hardly recognisable to my friends.
Tramping on Life | Harry KempNot a night but some brown maiden Bettered all the dusk she strayed in, While the roses in her hair Bankrupted oblivion there.
Songs from Vagabondia | Bliss Carman and Richard HoveyMay all men's lot be bettered, all women's sorrow lessened, to whom this tale of woes shall be recounted.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson | Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre SturlesonHodge dropped his nines, which he had not bettered, and that left Merriwell and Snell to fight it out.
Frank Merriwell's Chums | Burt L. Standish
British Dictionary definitions for better (1 of 2)
/ (ˈbɛtə) /
the comparative of good
more excellent than other members of a particular group, category, etc
more suitable, advantageous, attractive, etc
improved in health
fully recovered in health
in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
better off in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
the better part of a large part of: the better part of a day
the comparative of well 1
in a more excellent manner; more advantageously, attractively, etc
in or to a greater degree or extent; more: she is better loved than her sister
go one better (Brit intr; US tr) to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)
had better would be wise, sensible, etc to: I had better be off
know better than to not to be so stupid as to
think better of
to change one's course of action after reconsideration
to rate (a person) more highly
the better something that is the more excellent, useful, etc, of two such things
(usually plural) a person who is superior, esp in social standing or ability
all the better for improved as a result of
all the better to more suitable to
for better for worse whatever the subsequent events or changes may be
for the better by way of improvement: a change for the better
get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass
the better of Irish having recovered from: I'm not the better of it yet
to make or become better
(tr) to improve upon; surpass
Origin of better
1British Dictionary definitions for better (2 of 2)
esp US bettor
/ (ˈbɛtə) /
a person who bets
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with better
In addition to the idioms beginning with better
- better half
- better late than never
- better off
- better part of
- better safe than sorry
- better than
also see:
- against one's better judgment
- all better
- all the better
- discretion is the better part of valor
- for better or for worse
- get better
- get the better (best) of
- go one better
- had better (best)
- know better
- seen better days
- so much the better
- sooner the better
- take a turn for the better
- think better of
- you'd better believe it
Also see underbest.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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