had better

Idioms  

1. Also, had best. Ought to, should. For example, You had better finish this one before starting another, or We had best be going. [Mid-1400s] Also see you'd better believe it.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

had better

Over 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 years, the S&P 400 had better average returns than the large-cap S&P 500.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Chip stocks suffered a wobble, and investors had better hope that’s all it is.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Staff suggested women could have had better birth experiences "if appropriate care had been provided without delay".

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Eisenhower said, ‘We had better meteorologists than the Germans.’

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

“She had better be put to bed soon; she looks tired: are you tired?” she asked, placing her hand on my shoulder.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë