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better1

Syllabification: (bet·ter)
Pronunciation: /ˈbetər/

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Definition of better

adjective

  • 1comparative of good and well1.
  • of a more excellent or effective type or quality:hoping for better weather the new facilities were far better I’m better at algebra than Alice
  • more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised:there couldn’t be a better time to start this job it might be better to borrow the money
  • 2 [predic.] partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress; less unwell:she’s much better today his leg was getting better we’ll feel a lot better after a decent night’s sleep

adverb

  • comparative of well1.
  • more excellently or effectively:Johnny could do better if he tried instruments are generally better made these days
  • to a greater degree; more:I liked it better when we lived in the country you may find alternatives that suit you better
  • more suitably, appropriately, or usefully:the money could be better spent on more urgent cases

noun

  • 1the better one; that which is better:the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two a change for the better
  • 2 (one's betters) chiefly dated or humorous one’s superiors in social class or ability:amusing themselves by imitating their betters

verb

[with object]
  • improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement):bettering his previous time by ten minutes
  • make (something) better; improve:his ideas for bettering the working conditions
  • (better oneself) achieve a better social position or status:the residents are mostly welfare mothers who have bettered themselves
  • overcome or defeat (someone):she bettered him at archery

Phrases

be better off

be in a better position, especially in financial terms:the promotion would make her about $750 a year better off (as plural noun the better off)a paper read mainly by the better off

the —— the better

used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the quality or thing specified:the sooner we’re off, the better the more people there the better

the better part of

almost all of; most of:it is the better part of a mile

better safe than sorry

proverb it’s wiser to be cautious than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret.

better than

more than:he’d lived there for better than twenty years

the better to ——

so as to —— better:he leaned closer the better to hear her

for better or (for) worse

whether the outcome is good or bad:ours, for better or for worse, is the century of youth

get the better of

(often of something immaterial) win an advantage over (someone); defeat or outwit:curiosity got the better of her

go one better

narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement:I want to go one better this time and score
narrowly outdo (another person):he went one better than Jack by reaching the finals

had better do something

would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something:you had better be careful

have the better of

be more successful in a contest:she usually had the better of these debates

no (or little) better than

just (or almost) the same as; merely:government officials who were often no better than bandits

Origin:

Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best

1 In the verb phrase had better do something, the word had acts like an auxiliary verb; in informal spoken contexts, it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd (you’d better call), but it should not be dropped altogether (not you better call). 2 On the punctuation of better in compound adjectives, see well1 (usage).

better in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of better in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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