better

I UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] adjective ***

1)

a) 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.

b) more skilful

Maggie's a better cook than I'll ever be.

better at:

Alec is a lot better at sport than I am.

2)

a) used for saying that someone has become completely healthy again after an illness

You shouldn't go back to school until you're completely better.

I had a dreadful cold, but I'm better now.

get better (= become healthy again):

If you want to get better, you must take your medicine.

b) 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.

•

be (all) the better for something — to improve as a result of something

Their performance will be all the better for a little extra practice.

better still/yet — used when you are adding a new idea that you think is better than a good one already mentioned

Come for a weekend or, better still, come for a whole week.

for better or (for) worse — used for showing that you do not know whether an action, situation, or change will have good or bad results

He's the partner I chose, for better or for worse.

For better or worse, Britain's destiny is closely linked to that of the United States.

the sooner/bigger/quicker etc the better — used for saying that you want something to be as soon/big/quick etc as possible

I want you to get rid of those people, and the sooner the better.

- be better than nothing

- be no better than

- better for someone

- better luck next time

- would be better doing something

See:

better half, day, devil

II UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] adverb ***

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?

2)

a) 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.

b) 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

•

(had) better do something — mainly spoken used for saying that someone should do something

You'd better take an umbrella – it's going to rain.

I'd better not waste any more of your time.

- better known as

See:

go I

III UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] noun
Word forms "better":
singular better plural betters
***

something that is better

deserve/expect better:

She deserved better than the treatment she got from her employers.

•

- all the better

- someone's betters

- for the better

- get the better of someone

- so much the better

IV UK [ˈbetə(r)] / US [ˈbetər] verb [transitive]
Word forms "better":
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.

2) to improve something

an important step towards bettering relations between the two countries

•

- better yourself