better*/*/*/

better*/*/*/
[ˈbetə]
grammar word summary: Better can be: ■ an adjective: a better method of teaching languages ■ an adverb: Our opponents played better than we did. ■ a noun: There has been a change for the better.
1) the comparative form of ‘good' and ‘well', used for describing a person, thing, or way that is more satisfactory, suitable, skilful etc than another
Ant:
worse
She's trying to find a better job.[/ex]
The machine works better if you change the oil regularly.[/ex]
The situation started to get better.[/ex]
It's a good book, but her first one was far better.[/ex]
The results were better than we had expected.[/ex]
Maggie's a better cook than me.[/ex]
It's not much, but it's better than nothing.[/ex]
2) healthy again, or no longer painful
Ant:
worse
You shouldn't go back to school until you're better.[/ex]
Is your headache better?[/ex]
If you want to get better, you must take your medicine.[/ex]
3) liked or known more than someone or something else
I've always liked Susan better than her sister.[/ex]
He is better known by the name ‘Pele'.[/ex]
•
better still/yet — used when you are adding a new idea that you think is better[/ex]
Come for a weekend or, better still, come for a whole week.[/ex]
for the better — if something changes for the better, it improves (≠  for the worse)[/ex]
get the better of sb — 1) if a feeling gets the better of you, it is too strong for you to control; 2) to defeat someone in a game or argument[/ex]
(had) better do sth — spoken used for saying that someone should do something[/ex]
You'd better take an umbrella - it's going to rain.[/ex]
Do you think we'd better go now?[/ex]
the sooner/bigger/quicker etc the better — used for saying that you want something to be as soon/big/quick etc as possible[/ex]
I want you to get rid of those people, and the sooner the better.[/ex]

Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.

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  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — is the comparative form of the adjective good .Better may also refer to: * to better as a verb means that someone or something has undergone betterment *better, an alternate spelling of bettor, as a noun, is someone who bets (gambles) *Better, a… …   Wikipedia

  • better — better1 [bet′ər] adj. [ME bettere, betere < OE betera: see BEST] 1. compar. of GOOD 2. of a more excellent sort; surpassing another or others 3. more suitable, more desirable, more favorable, more profitable, etc. 4. being more than half;… …   English World dictionary

  • better — adj Better, superior, preferable mean more worthy or more pleasing than another or others. Better, which often serves as the comparative of good, in this sense implies a quality or character in a person or thing that surpasses or exceeds that in… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 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. [1913 Webster] I could have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — 1. had better. This common idiom is used in the form We had better go home or We d better go home; the negative form is We d better not go home and the interrogative Hadn t we better go home?. Informally (but not in more formal contexts), the… …   Modern English usage

  • 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. [1913 Webster] Love betters what is best.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — [adj1] excelling, more excellent bigger, choice, exceeding, exceptional, finer, fitter, greater, higher quality, improved, larger, more appropriate, more desirable, more fitting, more select, more suitable, more useful, more valuable, preferable …   New thesaurus

  • Better — Bet ter, n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. [1913 Webster] 2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; usually in the plural. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Better es una canción de la banda de hard rock estadounidense Guns N Roses, que aparece en su sexto disco de estudio Chinese Democracy , album del cuál también es el segundo sencillo que se ha lanzado hasta el… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Better — Bet ter, v. i. To become better; to improve. Carlyle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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