better

1
[ bet-er ]
See synonyms for: betterbetteredbettering on Thesaurus.com

adjective,comparative of good, with best as superlative.
  1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.

  2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.

  1. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.

  2. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.

  3. improved in health; healthier than before.

  4. completely recovered in health.

adverb,comparative of well, with best as superlative.
  1. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.

  2. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.

  1. more: I walked better than a mile to town.

verb (used with object)
  1. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better one's grades;to better the lot of the suburban commuter.

  2. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.

  1. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).

noun
  1. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.

  2. Usually betters . those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.

Idioms about better

  1. better off,

    • in better circumstances.

    • more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

  2. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.

  1. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.

  2. get / have the better of,

    • to get an advantage over.

    • to prevail against.

  3. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.

  4. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.

  5. no better than one should be, morally inferior; immoral or amoral: Don't speak to him; he's no better than he should be!

  6. 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

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(te)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser ), Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adverb) “better”; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; see best

Other words for better

Other words from better

  • un·bet·tered, adjective

Words that may be confused with better

Other definitions for better (2 of 2)

better2
[ bet-er ]

noun
  1. a variant of bettor.

Origin of better

2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use better in a sentence

  • But what is this realism that our leaders are supposed to acknowledge before bettering the world?

    Daniel Gordis Has It Backwards | Mark Baker | December 11, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Having spent time bettering yourself these past six months, you now exhibit all the signs of a terrifically together person.

  • Obama said their courage had inspired many to serve their country, whether in uniform or in bettering their communities.

    9/11: Nine Years Later | The Daily Beast | September 11, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Bettering the situation requires price pressures driven by consumers.

    The Holes in Health Reform | Conor Friedersdorf | November 8, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • And the statuesque brunette has even been credited with bettering the fashion sense of her high-powered husband.

    First Lady Arms Race | Alisa Gould-Simon | March 11, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • We do not employ the same means for bettering our position as we do in pursuing frivolous and fanciful things.

  • A slave has but one master; an ambitious man has as many masters as there are people who may be useful in bettering his position.

  • There is no possibility of permanently bettering their condition.

    Left on Labrador | Charles Asbury Stephens
  • This was the necessity for the bettering of the means of communication of the country.

    Mexico | Charles Reginald Enock
  • To express disapproval of their conduct would have incurred the enmity of the whole crew, without bettering his own situation.

    File No. 113 | Emile Gaboriau

British Dictionary definitions for better (1 of 2)

better1

/ (ˈbɛtə) /


adjective
  1. the comparative of good

  2. more excellent than other members of a particular group, category, etc

  1. more suitable, advantageous, attractive, etc

  2. improved in health

  3. fully recovered in health

  4. in more favourable circumstances, esp financially

  5. better off in more favourable circumstances, esp financially

  6. the better part of a large part of: the better part of a day

adverb
  1. the comparative of well 1

  2. in a more excellent manner; more advantageously, attractively, etc

  1. in or to a greater degree or extent; more: she is better loved than her sister

  2. go one better (Brit intr; US tr) to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)

  3. had better would be wise, sensible, etc to: I had better be off

  4. know better than to not to be so stupid as to

  5. think better of

    • to change one's course of action after reconsideration

    • to rate (a person) more highly

noun
  1. the better something that is the more excellent, useful, etc, of two such things

  2. (usually plural) a person who is superior, esp in social standing or ability

  1. all the better for improved as a result of

  2. all the better to more suitable to

  3. for better for worse whatever the subsequent events or changes may be

  4. for the better by way of improvement: a change for the better

  5. get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass

  6. the better of Irish having recovered from: I'm not the better of it yet

verb
  1. to make or become better

  2. (tr) to improve upon; surpass

Origin of better

1
Old English betera; related to Old Norse betri, Gothic batiza, Old High German beziro

British Dictionary definitions for better (2 of 2)

better2

esp US bettor

/ (ˈbɛtə) /


noun
  1. 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

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.