better

[ bet-er ]

/ ˈbɛt ər /

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See synonyms for: better / bettered / bettering on Thesaurus.com

adjective, comparative of good, with best as superlative.

of 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.

adverb, comparative of well, with best as superlative.

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.

verb (used with object)

to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better one's grades;to better the lot of the suburban commuter.

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

Cards. to raise (a previous bid).

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR better

10 amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify.

See synonyms for better on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

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 FROM better

un·bet·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH better

better , bettor

Other definitions for better (2 of 2)

better²

[ bet-er ]

/ ˈbɛt ər /

noun

a variant of bettor.

Origin of better

bet¹ + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use better in a sentence

Lots of people have to use this technology for it to work, or even to see what needs to be tweaked to make it work better.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
They understandably want and deserve better personal protective equipment, testing, contact tracing and ventilation.
Schools are not spreading covid-19. This new data explains why.|Emily Oster|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The picture was made in 1958, the same year that the better-known Morris Louis painted most of his multilayered “Veils.”
In the galleries: The Washington colorists and the CIA|Mark Jenkins|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
We should have a better idea of rain timing and amounts as we get closer.
D.C.-area forecast: Mainly clear skies plus warmer temperatures today and tomorrow|A. Camden Walker|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

If Wall can stay healthy, he is a better fit alongside Beal and he is far more likely to help Washington’s younger players reach their potential.
NBA free agency tracker (plus trades): Warriors acquire Kelly Oubre; 76ers trade Al Horford to Thunder|Ben Golliver|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
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|DAILY BEAST
Having spent time bettering yourself these past six months, you now exhibit all the signs of a terrifically together person.
What the Stars Hold for Your Week|Starsky + Cox|June 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Bettering the situation requires price pressures driven by consumers.
The Holes in Health Reform|Conor Friedersdorf|November 8, 2009|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|DAILY BEAST
We do not employ the same means for bettering our position as we do in pursuing frivolous and fanciful things.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
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.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
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

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 ofthe better part of a day

adverb

the comparative of well 1

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

in or to a greater degree or extent; moreshe 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 toI 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

noun

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 improvementa change for the better

get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass

the better of Irish having recovered fromI'm not the better of it yet

verb

to make or become better

(tr) to improve upon; surpass

Word Origin for better

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

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.

better

OTHER WORDS FOR better

Idioms about better

Origin of better

OTHER WORDS FROM better

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH better

Other definitions for better (2 of 2)

Origin of better

Words related to better

How to use better in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for better (1 of 2)

Word Origin for better

British Dictionary definitions for better (2 of 2)

esp US bettor

Other Idioms and Phrases with better