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better1

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛtə/
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Definition of better

adjective

  • 1more desirable, satisfactory, or effective:we’re hoping for better weather tomorrow the new facilities were far better I’m better at doing sums than Alice
    [comparative of the adjective good]
  • more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised:there couldn’t be a better time to take up this job it might be better to borrow the money
  • 2 [predic. or as complement] partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress:his leg was getting better
    [comparative of the adjective well1]

adverb

  • more excellently or effectively:Jonathon could do better if he tried sound travels better in water than in air instruments are generally better made these days
  • to a greater degree; more (used in connection with success or with desirable actions or conditions):I liked it better when we lived in the country well-fed people are better able to fight off infection
  • more suitably, appropriately, or usefully:the money could be better spent on more urgent cases

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the better one; that which is better:the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two you’ve a right to expect better than that a change for the better
  • 2 (one's betters) chiefly dated or humorous one’s superiors in social class or ability:educating the young to respect their elders and betters

verb

[with object]
  • improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement):his account can hardly be bettered bettering his previous time by ten minutes
  • make (something) better; improve:his ideas for bettering the lot of the millhands
  • (better oneself) achieve a higher social position or status:the residents are mostly Londoners who have bettered themselves
  • overcome or defeat (someone):she had almost bettered him at archery

Phrases

the —— the better

used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the thing specified:the sooner we’re off the better

better the devil you know than the devil you don't know

proverb it’s wiser to deal with an undesirable but familiar situation than to risk a change that might lead to an even worse situation: any other man might be as unpleasant to live with—better the devil you know

better off

in a more desirable or advantageous position, especially in financial terms:the proposals would make her about £400 a year better off

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 and careful than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret.

better than

North American 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

gain an advantage over or defeat (someone) by superior strength or ability:no one has ever got the better of her yet
(of a feeling or urge) be too strong to conceal or resist: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 Black by reaching the final

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):Attlee had the better of these exchanges

no (or little) better than

just (or almost) the same as (something bad); merely:viceroys who were often no better than bandits

no better than one should (or ought to) be

regarded as sexually promiscuous or of doubtful moral character.

Origin:

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

In the verb phrase had better do something the word had acts like an auxiliary verb, and in informal spoken contexts it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd but should not be dropped altogether.

better in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of better in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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