better

¹

[ bet-er ]

adjective

1. of superior quality or excellence:

   a better coat; a better speech.

2. morally superior; more virtuous:

   They are no better than thieves.

3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable:

   a better time for action.

4. larger; greater:

   the better part of a lifetime.

5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.

adverb

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.

3. 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.

   Synonyms: rectify, reform, promote, advance, amend, correct

2. to improve upon; surpass; exceed:

   We have bettered last year's production record.

3. 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.

better

²

[ bet-er ]

noun

1. a variant of bettor.

better

¹

/ ˈbɛtə /

noun

1. a person who bets

better

²

/ ˈbɛtə /

adjective

1. See good
   the comparative of good
2. more excellent than other members of a particular group, category, etc
3. more suitable, advantageous, attractive, etc
4. improved in health
5. fully recovered in health
6. in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
7. better off
   better off in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
8. the better part of
   the better part of a large part of

   the better part of a day

adverb

1. See well
   the comparative of well 1
2. in a more excellent manner; more advantageously, attractively, etc
3. in or to a greater degree or extent; more

   she is better loved than her sister

4. go one better
   go one better Brit intr; US tr to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)
5. had better
   had better would be wise, sensible, etc to

   I had better be off

6. know better than to
   know better than to not to be so stupid as to
7. think better of
   think better of
   1. to change one's course of action after reconsideration
   2. to rate (a person) more highly

noun

1. the better
   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
3. all the better for
   all the better for improved as a result of
4. all the better to
   all the better to more suitable to
5. for better for worse
   for better for worse whatever the subsequent events or changes may be
6. for the better
   for the better by way of improvement

   a change for the better

7. get the better of
   get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass
8. the better of
   the better of having recovered from

   I'm not the better of it yet

verb

1. to make or become better
2. tr to improve upon; surpass

Other Words From

• un·bettered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of better¹

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 boot ² ) + -iza comparative suffix; best

Origin of better²

bet ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of better¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. better off,
   1. in better circumstances.
   2. 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.

3. for the better, in a way that is an improvement:

   His health changed for the better.

4. get / have the better of,
   1. to get an advantage over.
   2. to prevail against.
5. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to:

   The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.

6. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to:

   We had better stay indoors today.

7. no better than one should be, morally inferior; immoral or amoral:

   Don't speak to him; he's no better than he should be!

8. think better of,
   1. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding:

      I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.

   2. to form a higher opinion of:

      I think better of him now that he's gone back to college.

More idioms and phrases containing better

• 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
• best

Example Sentences

We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, we do typically do better than Europe (and Canada, too, which is frequently awful on this score).

From The Daily Beast

The cartoonist, better known as Charb, was shot dead Wednesday.

From The Daily Beast

He also wants to “replace every existing organism with a better one.”

From The Daily Beast

For someone with anorexia, self-starvation makes them feel better.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, considerations of weight have to be taken into account, but the more mould round the roots the better.

From Project Gutenberg

"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Arches more graceful in form, or better fitted to defy the assaults of time, I have never seen.

From Project Gutenberg

This is one of the most striking manifestations of the better side of child-nature and deserves a chapter to itself.

From Project Gutenberg

For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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