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Definition of Better
1. Adverb. Comparative of 'well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.. "Better suited to the job"
2. 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. "She's better in math than in history"
3. Verb. Surpass in excellence. "Break a record"
Generic synonyms: Exceed, Outdo, Outgo, Outmatch, Outperform, Outstrip, Surmount, Surpass
4. Noun. Something superior in quality or condition or effect. "A change for the better"
5. Adverb. From a position of superiority or authority. "I know better."
6. Adjective. (comparative of 'good') changed for the better in health or fitness. "I feel better"
7. Verb. To make better. "They better their earnings this year"; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"
Specialized synonyms: Alleviate, Assuage, Palliate, Relieve, Aid, Help, Regenerate, Revitalize, Enrich, Build Up, Develop, Turn Around, Help, Upgrade, Condition, Emend, Iron Out, Put Right, Straighten Out, Enhance, Bushel, Doctor, Fix, Furbish Up, Mend, Repair, Restore, Touch On, Reform, Reform, Beautify, Embellish, Fancify, Prettify, Build, Hone, Perfect, Down, Fine-tune, Polish, Refine, Distill, Make Pure, Purify, Sublimate, Fructify, Lift, Raise, Advance, Upgrade, Educate
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Causes: Ameliorate, Improve, Meliorate
Related verbs: Ameliorate, Improve, Meliorate
Derivative terms: Amelioration, Ameliorative, Amelioratory, Amendable, Betterment, Improvement, Improver, Improver, Melioration, Melioration, Meliorative
Antonyms: Worsen
8. Noun. Someone who bets.
Specialized synonyms: Taker, Caller
Generic synonyms: Gambler
Derivative terms: Bet, Bet, Punt, Wager
9. Adjective. (comparative and superlative of 'well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable. "The White House thought it best not to respond"
10. Verb. Get better. "Their earnings better this year"; "The weather improved toward evening"
Specialized synonyms: Convalesce, Recover, Recuperate, Heal, Reform, See The Light, Straighten Out, Surge, Pick Up, Turn Around, Bounce Back, Get Over, Get Well, Heal, Mend, Fructify, Upgrade
Generic synonyms: Change State, Turn
Related verbs: Ameliorate, Amend, Improve, Meliorate
Derivative terms: Amelioration, Ameliorative, Amelioratory, Betterment, Improvement, Improvement, Melioration, Melioration, Melioration, Meliorative
Antonyms: Worsen
11. Noun. A superior person having claim to precedence. "The common man has been kept in his place by his betters"
12. Adjective. More than half. "Argued for the better part of an hour"
13. Noun. The superior one of two alternatives. "Chose the better of the two"
Definition of Better
1. a. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.
2. n. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.
3. adv. 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.
4. v. t. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.
5. v. i. To become better; to improve.
6. n. One who bets or lays a wager.
Definition of Better
1. Adjective. (comparative of good or well lang=English POS=adjective) ¹
2. Adverb. (comparative of well lang=English POS=adverb) ¹
3. Verb. (transitive) To improve. ¹
4. Verb. Had better. ¹
5. Noun. An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another. ¹
6. Noun. (alternative spelling of bettor) ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Better
1. to improve [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: improve
Medical Definition of Better
1. 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." (Milton) 2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect. "To obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Sam. Xv. 22) "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." (Ps. Cxviii. 9) 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 All, Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife. "My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee." (Sir P. Sidney) To be better off, to be in a better condition. Had better. (See 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." 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." (Shak) 1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. "Love betters what is best." (Wordsworth) "He thought to better his circumstances." (Thackeray) 2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. "The constant effort of every man to better himself." (Macaulay) 3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel. "The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered." (Hooker) 4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of. "Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes." (Milton) Synonym: To improve, meliorate, ameliorate, mend, amend, correct, emend, reform, advance, promote. Origin: AS. Beterian, betrian, fr. Betera better. See Better. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Better
Literary usage of Better
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Novels of Jane Austen by Jane Austen (1892)
"Sir Thomas meant to be giving Mr Rushworth's opinion in better words than he
could find himself. He was aware that he must not expect a genius in Mr ..."