better

[ bet-er ]

/ ˈbɛt ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR better ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, compar. of good with best as superl.

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, compar. of well with best as superl.

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)

to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better one's grades; to better the lot of the suburban commuter.

to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.

Cards. to raise (a previous bid).

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.

Idioms for better

better off,

in better circumstances.
more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

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.

get/have the better of,

to get an advantage over.
to prevail against.

go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.

had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.

no better than one should be, morally inferior; immoral or amoral: Don't speak to him; he's no better than he should be!

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.

Origin of better

before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)( e)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 (adv.) better; akin to boot²) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best

SYNONYMS FOR better

10 amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify. See improve.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR better ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM better

un·bet·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH better

better bettor

Words nearby better

betta, bette, betted, bettelheim, bettendorf, better, better business bureau, better half, better late than never, better off, better part of

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (1 of 2)

better ¹

/ (ˈbɛtə) /

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

better off in more favourable circumstances, esp financially

the better part of 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

go one better (Brit intr; US tr) to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)

had better would be wise, sensible, etc to I had better be off

know better than to not to be so stupid as to

think better of

to change one's course of action after reconsideration
to rate (a person) more highly

noun

the better 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

all the better for improved as a result of

all the better to more suitable to

for better for worse whatever the subsequent events or changes may be

for the better by way of improvement a change for the better

get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass

the better of Irish having recovered from I'm not the better of it yet

verb

to make or become better

(tr) to improve upon; surpass

Word Origin for better

Old English betera; related to Old Norse betri, Gothic batiza, Old High German beziro

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (2 of 2)

better ²

esp US bettor

/ (ˈbɛtə) /

noun

a person who bets

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (1 of 2)

get the better of

Also, get the best of; have the better or best of. Become superior to or master someone or something; win out. For example, John's common sense got the better of his pride, and he apologized, or Her older sister was always trying to get the best of her, or He was determined to have the better of his competitors. [c. 1600] Also see get the drop on.

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (2 of 2)

better

In addition to the idioms beginning with better

better half
better late than never
better off
better part of
better safe than sorry
better than

also see:

against one's better judgment
all better
all the better
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

Also see underbest.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

better

adjective, compar. of good with best as superl.

adverb, compar. of well with best as superl.

verb (used with object)

noun

Idioms for better

Origin of better

SYNONYMS FOR better

OTHER WORDS FROM better

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH better

Words nearby better

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (1 of 2)

adjective

adverb

noun

verb

Word Origin for better

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (2 of 2)

esp US bettor

noun

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

better

adjective, compar. of good with best as superl.

adverb, compar. of well with best as superl.

verb (used with object)

noun

Idioms for better

Origin of better

SYNONYMS FOR better

OTHER WORDS FROM better

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH better

Words nearby better

Words related to get the better of

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adjective

adverb

noun

verb

Word Origin for better

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (2 of 2)

esp US bettor

noun

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with get the better of (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for get the better of (1 of 2)