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better
1[bet-er]
adjective
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
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)
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.
better
2[bet-er]
noun
a variant of bettor.
better
1/ ˈɛə /
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
in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
a large part of
the 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; more
she is better loved than her sister
(Brit intr; US tr) to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)
would be wise, sensible, etc to
I had better be off
not to be so stupid as to
to change one's course of action after reconsideration
to rate (a person) more highly
noun
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
improved as a result of
more suitable to
whatever the subsequent events or changes may be
by way of improvement
a change for the better
to defeat, outwit, or surpass
having recovered from
I'm not the better of it yet
verb
to make or become better
(tr) to improve upon; surpass
better
2/ ˈɛə /
noun
a person who bets
Other 51Թ Forms
- unbettered adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of better1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of better1
Idioms and Phrases
better off,
in better circumstances.
more fortunate; happier.
Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to.
The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
get / have the better of,
to get an advantage over.
to prevail against.
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.
had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to.
We had better stay indoors today.
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.
no better than one should be, morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
Don't speak to him; he's no better than he should be!
Example Sentences
"It was my mistakes that let the team down but I'm in a different place right now and I feel like I'm driving better than ever. I felt pretty chilled throughout the whole race."
The boys have been joined by their seven-year-old sister Buhle at the school, which has better facilities and smaller class sizes.
The figures for England and Northern Ireland are slightly better but for Wales it is a massive 64.7%.
While living in various Asian countries for the better part of a decade, I’m typically bound to international brands like Cadbury and Ritter Sport.
"I think every day it gets better," Sinner said.
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When To Use
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.
- Used in a sentence: I was throwing up all morning, but I am better now.
- 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).
- Used in a sentence: Laurel took the time to better herself as a business owner.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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