better

adjective

UK /ˈbetə(r)/

1
more satisfactory, suitable, pleasant, effective, or of higher quality etc
She’s trying to find a better job.
better than:
The results were better than we had expected.
get better (=improve):
The situation is unlikely to get better in the foreseeable future.
much/far/a lot better:
I can think of far better ways of spending a million pounds.
little/no better:
There was a growing economic crisis in Asia, and things were no better in Europe.
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
1. 1a
  more skilful
  Maggie’s a better cook than I’ll ever be.
  better at:
  Alec is a lot better at sport than I am.
  Synonyms and related words
  Skilful and able
  able
  capable
  professional
2
used for saying that someone is not as ill as they were before, or that something is not as painful as it was before
She’s a little better today, but I think she should stay in bed.
You’ll feel better when you’ve had something to eat.
Is your headache any better?
better for something (=healthier as a result of something):
I had a good rest, and I’m feeling a lot better for it.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling better
restored
rested
renewed

phrases

be (all) the better for something

be better than nothing

be no better than

better for someone

better luck next time

better still/yet

for better or (for) worse

the sooner/bigger/quicker etc the better

would be better doing something

better

adjective

US /ˈbetər/

1
more satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, or of higher quality, etc.
She’s trying to find a better job.
better than:
The results were better than we had expected.
get better (=improve):
The situation is unlikely to get better in the foreseeable future.
much/far/a lot better:
I can think of far better ways of spending a million dollars.
little/no better:
There was a growing economic crisis in Asia, and things were no better in Europe.
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
1. 1a
  more skillful
  Maggie’s a better cook than I’ll ever be.
  better at:
  Alec is a lot better at sports than I am.
  Synonyms and related words
  Skillful and able
  skillful
  able
  capable
2
used for saying that someone is not as sick as they were before, or that something is not as painful as it was before
Is your headache any better?
You’ll feel better when you’ve had something to eat.
She’s a little better today, but I think she should stay in bed.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling better
restored
rested
renewed

phrases

be (all) the better for something

be better than nothing

be no better than

better for someone

better luck next time

better yet/still

for better or (for) worse

the sooner/bigger/quicker etc. the better

better

adverb

UK /ˈbetə(r)/

1
in a way that is more satisfactory, suitable, pleasant, effective, successful etc
The machine works better if you change the oil regularly.
do better:
Why was it that everyone else did better than me in the exams?
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
2
used for saying that one person or thing is liked or known more than another
like someone/something better:
I’ve always liked Susan better than her sister.
better known:
Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto is better known than his first.
like nothing better than (to do) something (=like something more than anything else):
The Duchess likes nothing better than a walk in the park with her dog.
Synonyms and related words
Loved, liked or wanted very much
dear
desirable
precious
1. 2a
  used for saying that one person or thing is famous in one way or for one reason rather than another
  Blake is better remembered as a poet than as a painter.
  better known for/as:
  a city that is better known for its crime record than for its cultural heritage
  Synonyms and related words
  Famous and well-known
  famous
  well-known
  celebrated

phrases

(had) better do something

better known as

better

adverb

US /ˈbetər/

1
in a way that is more satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, successful, etc.
The machine works better if you change the oil regularly.
do better:
Why was it that everyone else did better than me on the test?
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
2
used for saying that one person or thing is liked or known more than another
like someone/something better:
I’ve always liked Susan better than her sister.
better known:
Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto is better known than his first.
like nothing better than (to do) something (=like something more than anything else):
She likes nothing better than a walk in the park with her dog.
Synonyms and related words
Loved, liked or wanted very much
dear
desirable
precious
1. 2a
  used for saying that one person or thing is famous in one way or for one reason rather than another
  Blake is better remembered as a poet than as a painter.
  better known for/as:
  a city that is better known for its crime record than for its cultural heritage
  Synonyms and related words
  Famous and well-known
  famous
  well-known
  celebrated

phrases

(had) better do something

better known as

better

noun

UK /ˈbetə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	better
plural	betters

1
something that is better
deserve/expect better:
She deserved better than the treatment she got from her employers.
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
2
someone does not know any better
used to say that someone, especially a child, does something they are not supposed to do because they have not been told or taught that it is wrong to do itSubmitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 07/05/2018
Open Dictionary - May2018

phrases

all the better

someone’s betters

for the better

get the better of someone

so much the better

better

noun

US /ˈbetər/

Word Forms

singular	better
plural	betters

1
something that is better
deserve/expect better:
She deserved better than the treatment she got from her employers.
Synonyms and related words
Better
better
improved
superior
2
someone does not know any better
used to say that someone, especially a child, does something they are not supposed to do because they have not been told or taught that it is wrong to do itSubmitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 07/05/2018
Open Dictionary - May2018

phrases

all the better

someone’s betters

for the better

get the better of someone

so much the better

better

verb transitive

UK /ˈbetə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	better
he/she/it	betters
present participle	bettering
past tense	bettered
past participle	bettered

1
to achieve a better result than someone or something
Bradman’s average score of 96 has never been bettered.
Synonyms and related words
To be the best or better than someone else
surpass
outdo
rise above
2
to improve something
an important step towards bettering relations between the two countries
Synonyms and related words
To make something better
improve
enhance
remedy

phrases

better yourself

better

verb transitive

US /ˈbetər/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	better
he/she/it	betters
present participle	bettering
past tense	bettered
past participle	bettered

1
to achieve a better result than someone or something
Bradman’s average score of 96 has never been bettered.
Synonyms and related words
To be the best or better than someone else
rise above
overtake
rival
2
to improve something
an important step towards bettering relations between the two countries
Synonyms and related words
To make something better
improve
enhance
correct

phrases

better yourself

better ​‌‌‌

better ​‌‌‌

better ​‌‌‌

better ​‌‌‌

better ​‌‌‌

someone does not know any better

better ​‌‌‌

someone does not know any better

better

better

better

better

better

better

better

better