better
//ˈbɛt.ə//
Forms
- Superlative
- best
- Plural
- betters
- present (v1)
- better
- past (v2)
- bettered
- past participle (v3)
- bettered
- present participle
- bettering
- 3rd person singular
- betters
Definitions
1.comparative degree of good and well
- How are you? ~ A little better, thanks.
2.Greater in amount or quantity
- I want to do better next time.
- You'd better go back home now.
- You're in better shape than I am.
3.Greater or lesser (whichever is seen as more advantageous), in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
- The top electric vehicles have a range of 300 kilometres or better.
- Only one swimmer finished the race with a time better than two minutes.
4.Healed or recovered from an injury or illness.
- We can't go to the zoo today because you're sick; let's go when you're all better.
1.comparative form of well: more well
- The engine runs better now that I've given it some oil.
- “I’ve had enough of cycling with you chaps. I can spend my Sundays better than in tormenting cats and quarrelling and fighting.”
1.An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
- Their betters would hardly be found.
- He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
1.To improve.
- He thought to better his circumstances.
- This government will better our society.
- Love betters what is best.
2.Had better.(colloquial)
- Nobody better hurt any of my kids.
- It's getting late. You better get on home.
- Nothing better've happened to the guitar I lent you!
Frequency
Overall
Very common· #391
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Very common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Uncommon
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-West Germanic *batiʀō, from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed-rós, from *bʰed- (“good”).