better

[bet·ter]

Something better is improved like when a more advanced computer comes out, or you feel better after a cold.

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Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.

Noun
the superior one of two alternatives; "chose the better of the two"

Noun
one having claim to precedence; a superior; "the common man has been kept in his place by his betters"

Noun
someone who bets

Verb
get better; "The weather improved toward evening"

Verb
to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"

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Verb
surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record"

Adjective
(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; "You''re a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"

Adjective
(comparative of `good'') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better"

Adjective S.
more than half; "argued for the better part of an hour"

Adverb
comparative of `well''; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; "She had never sung better"; "a deed better left undone"; "better suited to the job"

Adverb
from a position of superiority or authority; "father knows best"; "I know better."

a.
Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.

a.
Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.

a.
Greater in amount; larger; more.

a.
Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.

a.
More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject.

n.
Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.

n.
One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.

compar.
In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.

compar.
More correctly or thoroughly.

compar.
In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another.

compar.
More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better.

a.
To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.

a.
To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.

a.
To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.

a.
To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.

v. i.
To become better; to improve.

n.
One who bets or lays a wager.

Better

Bet"ter , a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See Boot advantage, and cf. Best, Batful.] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.

Could make the worse appear The better reason.

2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.

To obey is better than sacrifice.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

3. Greater in amount; larger; more. 4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better. 5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject. All the better. See under All, adv. -- Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife.

My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee.

-- To be better off, to be in a better condition. -- Had better. (See under Had). The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive without to, is idiomatic. The earliest form of construction was "were better" with a dative; as, "Him were better go beside." (Gower.) i. e., It would be better for him, etc. At length the nominative (I, he, they, etc.) supplanted the dative and had took the place of were. Thus we have the construction now used.

By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not.

Better

Bet"ter, n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. 2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.

Their betters would hardly be found.

For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement. "If I have altered him anywhere for the better." Dryden.

Better

Bet"ter, adv.; compar. of Well. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.

I could have better spared a better man.

2. More correctly or thoroughly.

The better to understand the extent of our knowledge.

3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another.

Never was monarch better feared, and loved.

4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better. [Colloq.] To think better of (any one), to have a more favorable opinion of any one. -- To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to reconsider and alter one's decision.

Better

Bet"ter , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering.] [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See Better, a.] 1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.

Love betters what is best.

He thought to better his circumstances.

2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.

The constant effort of every man to better himself.

3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.

The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.

4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of. [Obs.]

Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes.

Syn. -- To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend; reform; advance; promote.

Better

Bet"ter, v. i. To become better; to improve. Carlyle.

Better

Bet"ter, n. One who bets or lays a wager.

Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.

Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.

In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.

To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.

To become better; to improve.

One who bets or lays a wager.

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Usage Examples

A comfortable old age is the reward of a well-spent youth. Instead of its bringing sad and melancholy prospects of decay, it would give us hopes of eternal youth in a better world.

A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.

A country that relies on aid? Death is better than that. It stops you from achieving your potential, just as colonialism did.

A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding.

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.

A friend is always good to have, but a lover's kiss is better than angels raining down on me.

'A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints' was the first real actor-actor part I did, and I hope I to do more. Action movies are fun, but I'd be happy not to do them if there are better roles.

Misspelled Form

better, vbetter, gbetter, hbetter, nbetter, better, vetter, getter, hetter, netter, etter, bvetter, bgetter, bhetter, bnetter, b etter, bwetter, b3etter, b4etter, bretter, bsetter, bdetter, bwtter, b3tter, b4tter, brtter, bstter, bdtter, bewtter, be3tter, be4tter, bertter, bestter, bedtter, bertter, be5tter, be6tter, beytter, begtter, berter, be5ter, be6ter, beyter, begter, betrter, bet5ter, bet6ter, betyter, betgter, betrter, bet5ter, bet6ter, betyter, betgter, betrer, bet5er, bet6er, betyer, betger, bettrer, bett5er, bett6er, bettyer, bettger, bettwer, bett3er, bett4er, bettrer, bettser, bettder, bettwr, bett3r, bett4r, bettrr, bettsr, bettdr, bettewr, bette3r, bette4r, betterr, bettesr, bettedr, betteer, bette4r, bette5r, bettetr, bettefr, bettee, bette4, bette5, bettet, bettef, bettere, better4, better5, bettert, betterf.

Other Usage Examples

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

A band is not a marriage. There are no oaths of allegiance. If you feel your life will be better served by splitting up the group, you've got to do it - but of course it does cause problems.

A good boss makes his men realize they have more ability than they think they have so that they consistently do better work than they thought they could.

'Old times' never come back and I suppose it's just as well. What comes back is a new morning every day in the year, and that's better.

A Bush Administration will, I believe, enjoy a better relationship with the new Congress, although President-elect Bush will be faced with real challenges in getting along with the Congress.

"These days the technology can solve our problems and then some. Solutions may not only erase physical or mental deficits but leave patients better off than ""able-bodied"" folks. The person who has a disability today may have a superability tomorrow."

A fairly bright boy is far more intelligent and far better company than the average adult.

A big part of who I am is just the way I was raised. Nobody is better than anyone else, and if you really work hard, you might get lucky and get what you want.