Definition of
Better
- (noun, attribute) something superior in quality or condition or effect
- (noun, attribute) the superior one of two alternatives
- (noun, person) a superior person having claim to precedence
- (noun, person) someone who bets
- (verb, change) get better
- (verb, change) to make better
- (verb, competition) surpass in excellence
break a record - (adj, all) (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
the White House thought it best not to respond - (adj, all) (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
a better coat
a better type of car
a suit with a better fit
a better chance of success
produced a better mousetrap
she's better in math than in history - (adj, all) (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness
I feel better - (adj, all) more than half
- (adv, all) comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.
a deed better left undone
better suited to the job - (adv, all) from a position of superiority or authority
I know better.
via WordNet, Princeton University
Alternate forms of Better
Derivations: bet, better, betterment
Hyponyms: advance, aid, alleviate, assuage, beautify, bounce back, build, build up, bushel, caller, condition, convalesce, develop, distill, doctor, down, educate, embellish, emend, enhance, enrich, fancify, fine-tune, fix, fructify, furbish up, get over, get well, heal, help, hone, iron out, lift, make pure, mend, palliate, perfect, pick up, polish, prettify, purify, put right, raise, recover, recuperate, refine, reform, regenerate, relieve, repair, restore, revitalize, see the light, straighten out, sublimate, surge, taker, touch on, turn around, upgrade
Hypernyms: alter, change, change state, exceed, gambler, good, goodness, higher-up, modify, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, superior, superordinate, surmount, surpass, turn
Origin of the word Better
- O.E. betera (see best), from P.Gmc. *batizo-, from PIE *bhad- "good." Comparative adj. of good in the older Gmc. languages (cf. O.N. betr, Dan. bedre, Ger. besser, Goth. batiza). Superseded bet in the adverbial sense by 1600. Better half "wife" is first attested 1570s; to get the better of (someone) is from m… more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper
Words that sound like Better
b battery, baby powder, bad weather, bath water, bather, batter, battery, bawdry, bay tree, be after, bead tree, beater, bed wetter, bedder, bedwetter, bee eater, beefeater, beta ray, betray, betrayer, bettor, bidder, biter, bitter, bo tree, boater, body hair, body odor, body odour, bother, boudoir, butter, buttery
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