Etimology
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”). Cognate with Sanskrit भद्र (bhadrá, “blessed, fortunate, happy, good”) (from *bʰn̥d-ró-s). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Related to best and battle (“getting better, improving, fruitful, fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), bót (“improvement”), German besser. More at batten, boot. Persian بهتر (behtar) is a false cognate.
adjective
better (positive good, adverb well, comparative (humorous) betterer, superlative (humorous) betterest, or (standard) best)
comparative degree of good
comparative degree of well
Greater in amount or quantity
Greater or lesser (whichever is seen as more advantageous), in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
Healed or recovered from an injury or illness.
Examples
Badger: You think you're better than other people.Mal: Just the ones I'm better than.
“The air was still with the lonely thrill of 'now the hour is near' And the smell of sweat was better yet than the awful stench of fear.”
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.
We can't go to the zoo today because you're sick; let's go when you're all better.
adverb
better
comparative degree of well
The template Template:rfc-sense does not use the parameter(s): 2=this is a modal auxiliary verb, not an adverb Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.(Can we clean up(+) this sense?) (colloquial shortening) Had better.
Examples
The engine runs better now that I've given it some oil.
I could never better stead thee than now. […]
“I’ve had enough of cycling with you chaps. I can spend my Sundays better than in tormenting cats and quarrelling and fighting.”
You better do that if you know what's good for you.
noun
better (plural betters)
An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
Examples
He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
Their betters would hardly be found.
Etimology
Shortening of had better ('d better)
verb
better
(modal, auxiliary verb, colloquial) Had better.
Examples
It's getting late. You better get on home.
Etimology
From Middle English beteren, from Old English beterian, betrian, from Proto-Germanic *batizōną. Cognate with West Frisian betterje (“to better”), Dutch beteren (“to better”), German bessern (“to better”), Danish bedre (“to better”), Swedish bättra (“to better”).
verb
better (third-person singular simple present betters, present participle bettering, simple past and past participle bettered)
(transitive) To improve.
(intransitive) To become better; to improve.
(transitive) To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
(transitive) To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
Examples
This government will better this society
Love betters what is best.
He thought to better his circumstances.
the constant effort of every man to better himself
The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, / May serve to better us and worse our foes.
Related words
synonyms
See also Thesaurus:improve
Etimology
Alternative spelling of bettor or modern formation from the verb to bet.
noun
better (plural betters)
Alternative spelling of bettor