English Dictionary

Definition of “better”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of better

better1 (ˈbɛtə Pronunciation for better1 ) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. the comparative of good
  2. more excellent than other members of a particular group, category, etc
  3. more suitable, advantageous, attractive, etc
  4. improved in health
  5. fully recovered in health
  6. in more favourable circumstances, esp financially

  7. See better off

  8. See the better part of

adverb

  1. the comparative of well1
  2. in a more excellent manner; more advantageously, attractively, etc
  3. in or to a greater degree or extent; more ⇒ she is better loved than her sister

  4. See go one better

  5. See had better

  6. See know better than to

  7. See think better of

noun

  1. See the better

  2. usually plural a person who is superior, esp in social standing or ability

  3. See all the better for

  4. See all the better to

  5. See for better for worse

  6. See for the better

  7. See get the better of

  8. See the better of

verb

  1. to make or become better
  2. tr to improve upon; surpass

Word Origin

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

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= to a greater degree, more completely, more thoroughly
= in a more excellent manner, more effectively, more attractively, more advantageously, more competently, in a superior way,
= well, stronger, improving, progressing, recovering, healthier, cured, mending, fitter, fully recovered, on the mend, more healthy, less ill,
= superior, finer, nicer, worthier, higher-quality, surpassing, preferable, more appropriate, more useful, more valuable, more suitable, more desirable, streets ahead, more fitting, more expert,
= greater, bigger, larger
= beat, top, exceed, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, trump, improve on or upon, cap
= run rings around, clobber, lick, knock spots off, put in the shade
= improve, further, raise, forward, reform, advance, promote, correct, enhance, upgrade, amend, mend, rectify, augment, ameliorate, meliorate,

better2 or (especially US) bettor (ˈbɛtə Pronunciation for )

Definitions

noun

  1. a person who bets

good (ɡʊd Pronunciation for good ) 

Definitions

adjective

Word forms:  better, best
  1. having admirable, pleasing, superior, or positive qualities; not negative, bad or mediocre ⇒ a good idea, a good teacher
    1. morally excellent or admirable; virtuous; righteous ⇒ a good man
    2. (as collective noun; preceded by the) ⇒ the good
  3. suitable or efficient for a purpose ⇒ a good secretary, a good winter coat
  4. beneficial or advantageous ⇒ vegetables are good for you
  5. not ruined or decayed; sound or whole ⇒ the meat is still good
  6. kindly, generous, or approving ⇒ you are good to him
  7. right or acceptable ⇒ your qualifications are good for the job
  8. rich and fertile ⇒ good land
  9. valid or genuine ⇒ I would not do this without good reason
  10. honourable or held in high esteem ⇒ a good family
  11. commercially or financially secure, sound, or safe ⇒ good securities, a good investment
  12. (of a draft) drawn for a stated sum
  13. (of debts) expected to be fully paid
  14. clever, competent, or talented ⇒ he's good at science
  15. obedient or well-behaved ⇒ a good dog
  16. reliable, safe, or recommended ⇒ a good make of clothes
  17. affording material pleasure or indulgence ⇒ the good things in life, the good life
  18. having a well-proportioned, beautiful, or generally fine appearance ⇒ a good figure, a good complexion
  19. complete; full ⇒ I took a good look round the house
  20. propitious; opportune ⇒ a good time to ask the manager for a rise
  21. satisfying or gratifying ⇒ a good rest
  22. comfortable ⇒ did you have a good night?
  23. newest or of the best quality ⇒ to keep the good plates for important guests
  24. fairly large, extensive, or long ⇒ a good distance away
  25. sufficient; ample ⇒ we have a good supply of food
  26. (US) (of meat) of the third government grade, above standard and below choice
  27. serious or intellectual ⇒ good music
  28. used in a traditional description ⇒ the good ship ``America''
  29. used in polite or patronizing phrases or to express anger (often intended ironically) ⇒ how is your good lady?, look here, my good man!

  30. See a good one

  31. See as good as

  32. See as good as gold

  33. See be as good as to

  34. See come good

  35. See good and

  36. (intensifier; used in mild oaths) ⇒ good grief!, good heavens!

exclamation

  1. an exclamation of approval, agreement, pleasure, etc

noun

  1. moral or material advantage or use; benefit or profit ⇒ for the good of our workers, what is the good of worrying?
  2. positive moral qualities; goodness; virtue; righteousness; piety
  3. sometimes capital moral qualities seen as a single abstract entity ⇒ we must pursue the Good
  4. a good thing
  5. (economics) a commodity or service that satisfies a human need

  6. See for good

  7. See make good

  8. See good on you

  9. See get any good of

See also

goods

Derived Forms

ˈgoodish adjective

Word Origin

Old English gōd; related to Old Norse gōthr, Old High German guot good

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= excellent, great, fine, pleasing, capital, choice, crucial, acceptable, pleasant, worthy, first-class, divine, splendid, satisfactory, superb, enjoyable, awesome, dope, world-class, admirable, agreeable, super, pleasurable, wicked, bad, first-rate, tiptop, bitchin', booshit, exo, sik, rad, phat, schmick, beaut, barrie, belting, pearler,
= fine, excellent, superior, first-class, first-rate, choice,
= proficient, able, skilled, capable, expert, talented, efficient, clever, accomplished, reliable, first-class, satisfactory, competent, thorough, tasty, adept, first-rate, adroit, dexterous,
= positive, beneficial, favourable, advantageous, auspicious, propitious,
= sensible, useful, wise, valuable, suitable, worthwhile, constructive, shrewd, prudent, sound, commendable, judicious, well-thought-out, well-reasoned
= desirable, pleasing, positive, productive, satisfying, beneficial, constructive, gratifying, advantageous
= clear, correct, accurate, exact, precise, definite
= profitable, fair, reasonable, adequate, lucrative
= beneficial, useful, healthy, helpful, favourable, wholesome, advantageous, salutary, salubrious,
= honourable, moral, worthy, ethical, upright, admirable, honest, righteous, exemplary, right, virtuous, trustworthy, altruistic, praiseworthy, estimable,
= well-behaved, seemly, mannerly, proper, polite, orderly, obedient, dutiful, decorous, well-mannered,
= kind, kindly, friendly, obliging, charitable, humane, gracious, benevolent, merciful, beneficent, well-disposed, kind-hearted,
= cheerful, happy, pleasant, agreeable, congenial, convivial
= true, real, genuine, proper, reliable, dependable, sound, trustworthy, dinkum
= full, long, whole, complete, entire, solid, extensive,
= considerable, large, substantial, sufficient, adequate, ample
= valid, convincing, compelling, legitimate, authentic, persuasive, sound, bona fide,
= best, newest, special, finest, nicest, smartest, fancy, most valuable, most precious
= sunny, clear, fair, bright, calm, mild, clement, halcyon, balmy, cloudless, sunshiny
= edible, untainted, uncorrupted, eatable, fit to eat,
= convenient, timely, fitting, fit, appropriate, suitable, well-timed, opportune,
= benefit, interest, gain, advantage, use, service, profit, welfare, behalf, avail, usefulness, wellbeing,
= virtue, goodness, righteousness, worth, merit, excellence, morality, probity, rectitude, uprightness,

Quotations including 'better'

  • "Mostly, we are good when it makes sense. A good society is one that makes sense of being good" Ian McEwan
  • "Being good is just a matter of temperament in the end" Iris Murdoch
  • "No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand" Bertolt Brecht
  • "`For your own good' is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction" Janet Frame
  • "No people do so much harm as those who go about doing good" Bishop Mandell Creighton
  • "Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame" Alexander Pope

guid (ɡyd; ɡɪd Pronunciation for guid ) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. a Scot word for good

well1 (wɛl Pronunciation for well1 ) 

Definitions

adverb

Word forms:  better, best
  1. often used in combination in a satisfactory manner ⇒ the party went very well
  2. often used in combination in a good, skilful, or pleasing manner ⇒ she plays the violin well
  3. in a correct or careful manner ⇒ listen well to my words
  4. in a comfortable or prosperous manner ⇒ to live well
  5. usually used with auxiliaries suitably; fittingly ⇒ you can't very well say that
  6. intimately ⇒ I knew him well
  7. in a kind or favourable manner ⇒ she speaks well of you
  8. to a great or considerable extent; fully ⇒ to be well informed
  9. by a considerable margin ⇒ let me know well in advance
  10. preceded by could, might, or may indeed ⇒ you may well have to do it yourself
  11. (informal) (intensifier) ⇒ well safe

  12. See all very well

  13. See as well

  14. See as well as

  15. See just leave well alone

  16. See well and good

  17. See well up in

adjective

  1. when prenominal, usually used with a negative in good health ⇒ I'm very well, thank you, he's not a well man
  2. satisfactory, agreeable, or pleasing
  3. prudent; advisable ⇒ it would be well to make no comment
  4. prosperous or comfortable
  5. fortunate or happy ⇒ it is well that you agreed to go

exclamation

    1. an expression of surprise, indignation, or reproof
    2. an expression of anticipation in waiting for an answer or remark

sentence connector

  1. an expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etc ⇒ well, I don't think I will come

Word Origin

Old English wel; related to Old High German wala, wola (German wohl), Old Norse val, Gothic waila

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= skilfully, expertly, adeptly, with skill, professionally, correctly, properly, effectively, efficiently, adequately, admirably, ably, conscientiously, proficiently,
= satisfactorily, nicely, smoothly, successfully, capitally, pleasantly, happily, famously, splendidly, agreeably, like nobody's business, in a satisfactory manner,
= thoroughly, completely, fully, carefully, effectively, efficiently, rigorously
= intimately, closely, completely, deeply, fully, personally, profoundly,
= carefully, closely, minutely, fully, comprehensively, accurately, in detail, in depth, extensively, meticulously, painstakingly, rigorously, scrupulously, assiduously, intensively, from top to bottom, methodically, attentively, conscientiously, exhaustively
= favourably, highly, kindly, warmly, enthusiastically, graciously, approvingly, admiringly, with admiration, appreciatively, with praise, glowingly, with approbation,
= considerably, easily, very much, significantly, substantially, markedly
= fully, highly, greatly, completely, amply, very much, thoroughly, considerably, sufficiently, substantially, heartily, abundantly
= possibly, probably, certainly, reasonably, conceivably, justifiably
= decently, right, kindly, fittingly, fairly, easily, correctly, properly, readily, politely, suitably, generously, justly, in all fairness, genially, civilly, hospitably,
= prosperously, comfortably, splendidly, in comfort, in (the lap of) luxury, flourishingly, without hardship
= harmoniously, nicely, pleasantly, happily, politely, famously, amicably, amiably, agreeably, peaceably, genially, like a house on fire
= healthy, strong, sound, fit, blooming, robust, hale, hearty, in good health, alive and kicking, fighting fit, in fine fettle, up to par, fit as a fiddle, able-bodied, in good condition,
= satisfactory, good, right, fine, happy, fitting, pleasing, bright, useful, lucky, proper, thriving, flourishing, profitable, fortunate,
= advisable, useful, proper, prudent, agreeable,

Translations for 'better'

  • British English: betterPronunciation for better You use better to mean that a thing is very good compared to another thing.His painting is better than mine.ˈbɛtə ADJECTIVEmore good
  • Arabic: أَفْضَلPronunciation for أَفْضَل
  • Brazilian Portuguese: melhorPronunciation for melhor
  • Chinese: 较好的Pronunciation for 较好的
  • Croatian: boljiPronunciation for bolji bolja
  • Czech: lepšíPronunciation for lepší
  • Danish: bedrePronunciation for bedre
  • Dutch: beterPronunciation for beter
  • European Spanish: mejorPronunciation for mejorcomparativo
  • Finnish: parempiPronunciation for parempi
  • French: meilleurPronunciation for meilleur
  • German: besserPronunciation for besser
  • Greek: καλύτεροςPronunciation for καλύτερος καλύτερη
  • Italian: migliorePronunciation for migliore
  • Japanese: よりよいPronunciation for よりよい
  • Korean: 더 좋은Pronunciation for 더 좋은
  • Norwegian: bedrePronunciation for bedre
  • Polish: lepszyPronunciation for lepszy lepsza
  • Portuguese: melhorPronunciation for melhor
  • Romanian: mai bun mai bun, mai bună, mai bun, mai bune
  • Russian: лучшийPronunciation for лучший лучшая
  • Spanish: mejorPronunciation for mejor
  • Swedish: bättrePronunciation for bättre
  • Thai: ดีกว่าPronunciation for ดีกว่า
  • Turkish: daha iyiPronunciation for daha iyi
  • Ukrainian: кращий
  • Vietnamese: tốt hơnPronunciation for tốt hơn
  • British English: betterPronunciation for better You use better to mean that someone or something does something very well compared to another person or thing.She plays tennis better than I do.ˈbɛtə ADVERB
  • Arabic: أَحْسَنPronunciation for أَحْسَن
  • Brazilian Portuguese: melhorPronunciation for melhor
  • Chinese: 更好地Pronunciation for 更好地
  • Croatian: boljePronunciation for bolje
  • Czech: lépePronunciation for lépe
  • Danish: bedrePronunciation for bedre
  • Dutch: beterPronunciation for beter
  • European Spanish: mejorPronunciation for mejor
  • Finnish: paremminPronunciation for paremmin
  • French: mieuxPronunciation for mieux
  • German: besserPronunciation for besser
  • Greek: καλύτεραPronunciation for καλύτερα
  • Italian: meglioPronunciation for meglio
  • Japanese: よりよくPronunciation for よりよく
  • Korean: 더 잘Pronunciation for 더 잘
  • Norwegian: bedrePronunciation for bedre
  • Polish: lepiejPronunciation for lepiej
  • Portuguese: melhorPronunciation for melhor
  • Romanian: mai bine
  • Russian: лучшеPronunciation for лучше
  • Spanish: mejorPronunciation for mejor
  • Swedish: bättrePronunciation for bättre
  • Thai: มาตรฐานที่ดีกว่าPronunciation for มาตรฐานที่ดีกว่า
  • Turkish: daha iyisiPronunciation for daha iyisi
  • Ukrainian: краще
  • Vietnamese: tốt hơnPronunciation for tốt hơn
  • British English: betterˈbɛtə If you feel better, you do not feel ill anymore.I feel much better today. ADJECTIVEwell again
  • Arabic: أَحْسَن
  • Brazilian Portuguese: melhor
  • Chinese: 好转的病情
  • Croatian: bolje
  • Czech: lépe
  • Danish: bedre
  • Dutch: beter
  • European Spanish: mejor
  • Finnish: parempi
  • French: mieux
  • German: besser
  • Greek: καλύτερος καλύτερη
  • Italian: meglio
  • Japanese: 前より具合が良い
  • Korean: 더 좋은
  • Norwegian: god bedre
  • Polish: lepiej
  • Portuguese: melhor
  • Romanian: mai bine binecomparative degree
  • Russian: поправившийся
  • Spanish: mejorsentirse mejor
  • Swedish: bättre
  • Thai: ดีขึ้น
  • Turkish: daha iyi
  • Ukrainian: кращий
  • Vietnamese: tốt hơn

Example Sentences Including 'better'

After I'd dried her I could see the colour rising to her cheeks and she definitely looked better.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Balmain kept lobbying for reforms, including better care on convict transports.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
GARDENS TO VISIT Secret Gardens of the Riviera Garden lovers will find no better place to explore than the French Riviera.
Country Life (2004)
I look at the Blackburn team then and the Chelsea team now and think player for player they are better at Chelsea.
Irish Times (2002)
Retirement is looking better and better ,' said Malone and wished he could push the clock forward.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
That made me a better boxer, a better fighter, a better person.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
That the revolutionary movement would be better off without him.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
The situation at local government level is marginally better with 15 per cent of council seats held by women.
Irish Times (2002)
There aren't any circumstances in which I can imagine forgiving her, but at least I could have understood her better.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)

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