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- DictionaryBet·ter/ˈbedər/
adjective
- 1. of a more excellent or effective type or quality: "hoping for better weather"
- 2. partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress; less unwell: "his leg was getting better"
adverb
- 1. more excellently or effectively: "Johnny could do better if he tried"
noun
- 1. the better one; that which is better: "the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two"
- 2. one's superiors in social class or ability: dated, humorous "I'm not one to speak ill of my betters"
verb
- 1. improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement): "bettering his previous time by ten minutes"
comparative of good. 1. : greater than half. for the better part of an hour. 2. : improved in health or mental attitude. feeling better. 3. : more attractive, favorable, or commendable.
What is a basic definition of better? 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.
When we talk about things being better, we're comparing in a favorable way. A great movie is better than a good or awful movie. With practice, you will get better at a sport or a subject like math. Doctors help patients feel better, and mechanics make a car run better.
in a more suitable, pleasing, or satisfactory way, or to a greater degree: The next time he took the test, he was better prepared. They did much better (= were more successful) in the second half of the game. I like this jacket much better than (= I prefer it to) the other one.
You use better to mean that someone or something does something very well compared to another person or thing.
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.
Britannica Dictionary definition of BETTER. comparative form of 1 good or of 2 well. 1. : higher in quality. Her second book is better than her first one. This is one of the better [= best] restaurants in this part of town. Her first book was good, but her second one is even better. = Her second one is better still/yet.
comparative of good adjective : of a higher quality, more effective, or more enjoyable than something or someone else: Jeff's been offered a better job in the States. The sales figures were better than expected. Her English has got a lot better (= improved) recently.
of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as something else. We're hoping for better weather tomorrow. Her work is getting better and better. He is in a much better mood than usual. The meal couldn't have been better. There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.
Some common synonyms of better are ameliorate, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.
