better

¹ American  

[bet-er] / ˈbɛt ər /

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 , correct , reform , promote , advance , amend

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.

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. go (someone) one better,  to exceed the effort of; be superior to.

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

3. get / have the better of,

   1. to get an advantage over.

   2. to prevail against.

4. better oneself,  to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education.

   He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.

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

   His health changed for the better.

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

   We had better stay indoors today.

7. 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.

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

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

better ² American  

[bet-er] / ˈbɛt ər /

noun

1. a variant of bettor.

---

better ¹ British  

/ ˈbɛtə /

adjective

1. 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. in more favourable circumstances, esp financially

8. 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

3. in or to a greater degree or extent; more

   she is better loved than her sister

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

5. would be wise, sensible, etc to

   I had better be off

6. not to be so stupid as to

7. 1. to change one's course of action after reconsideration

   2. to rate (a person) more highly

noun

1. 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. improved as a result of

4. more suitable to

5. whatever the subsequent events or changes may be

6. by way of improvement

   a change for the better

7. to defeat, outwit, or surpass

8. having recovered from

   I'm not the better of it yet

verb

1. to make or become better

2. (tr) to improve upon; surpass

better ² British  

/ ˈbɛtə /

noun

1. a person who bets

---

better More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing better

• against one's better judgment
• all better
• all the better
• best
• 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

---

Usage

What is a basic definition of better? Better is an adjective that describes something as being superior or is an adverb that means something is done to a higher degree or more completely. As a verb, better means to improve. The word better has more specific senses as an adjective, adverb, and a verb.As an adjective, the word better is a comparative of the word good, with the superlative being best. This means that if something is better, it is “more good” than something else but might be “less good” than something that is best. For example, in the Olympic Games a bronze medal is good, a silver medal is better, and a gold medal is the best you can get. Because better is a comparative, you must be comparing two things or conditions when using it.

• Real-life examples: An A is a better grade than a B on a test. Most people would agree that a spoonful of cinnamon has a better taste than a spoonful of cough medicine. A racer who finishes first is a better driver than all of the other racers.
• Used in a sentence: I think a puppy is a better pet for a kid than a snake. 

Sometimes, only one of the things being compared is mentioned, while the other is implied. This is most commonly done when the word better is used to mean improved health.

• Used in a sentence: I was throwing up all morning, but I am better now.

Better is also used as an adverb as a comparative of the word well, with best as the superlative. It often describes how something is done. For example, I can play soccer well, a college soccer player plays better, and an Olympic soccer player plays best out of the three of us.

• Real-life examples: A chess master will play chess better than someone who has never played at all. Some students learn better than others. You read articles like this one to learn how to use words better.
• Used in a sentence: He can draw well, but I know that I can draw better (than he can). 

As a verb, better means to improve something.

• Used in a sentence: Laurel took the time to better herself as a business owner.

Other Word Forms

• unbettered adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

In that way, the next mission to explore an asteroid is better prepared.

From Space Scoop

UBS also thinks the company has a “best-in-class” e-commerce platform, one that offers people a better experience and “often a better price,” he said.

From MarketWatch

It invites you to leave the theater feeling better about the world.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s Jack, Devon, and Ulysses. They’re way better company than club promoters or industry people. They don’t talk!”

From Salon

Express that you’re coming from a place of care, not judgment, and your feedback will be better received.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• advance
• beat
• correct
• enhance
• exceed
• excel
• raise
• surpass