better

bet|ter¹ W1S1 [ˈbetə US -ər] adj

[: Old English; Origin: betera]

1.) [comparative of good]

more useful, interesting, satisfactory, effective, suitable etc

≠ ↑worse

▪ Your stereo is better than mine.

▪ a better job with a better salary

▪ There must be a better way to do this.

▪ a better-quality car

much/a lot/far better

▪ We now have a much better understanding of the disease.

better still/even better

▪ It was even better than last year.

2.) [comparative of well]

a) more healthy or less ill or painful than before

≠ ↑worse

▪ She is a little better today, the doctor says.

▪ I'm feeling much better , thank you.

b) completely well again after an illness

▪ When you're better we can see about planning a trip.

▪ I hope he gets better (=recovers from an illness) soon.

3.) it is better/it would be better

used to give your opinion or make a suggestion about what you think should be done or happen

it is better to do sth

▪ It's much better to get a proper written agreement.

it is better/it would be better if

▪ It might be better if you stayed here.

4.) get better

to improve

▪ Her English isn't really getting any better.

▪ Things can only get better.

5.) no better

a) not better than something else or something before

▪ The following day the weather was no better.

▪ John's no better; he never does any washing up either.

b) used to say that something is the best

there is no better way/example/place etc

▪ There's no better way of exploring the region.

6.) nothing better

a) used to say that you really like something or think that something is very good

like/love/enjoy nothing better (than)

▪ She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach.

▪ There's nothing better than beating someone who's playing well.

b) used to say that a thing or situation is not very good, but is the only thing possible or available

have nothing better to do

▪ Have you got nothing better to do than sit there playing that silly game?

▪ I only picked it up because there was nothing better to read.

7.) that's better

spoken used to say that something has improved, that you are happier or more comfortable, or to encourage someone

▪ Ah, that's better. I needed to sit down.

▪ Move it left a bit. Yes, that's better.

▪ 'Can you turn it down a bit?' 'Is that better?'

8.) better late than never

spoken used to say that even if something happens late or someone arrives late, this is better than it not happening or their not arriving at all

→your better half/other half at ↑half² (8)

→the best/better part of sth at ↑part¹ (9)

→against your better judgment at ↑judgment

→sb's better nature at ↑nature

→better luck next time at ↑luck¹ (14)

→better the devil you know at ↑devil

→have seen better days at ↑see¹ (30)

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HINT sense 1

Better is a comparative form. Do not say 'more better'.

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better ²

better² W1S1 adv [comparative of well]

1.) to a higher standard or quality

≠ ↑worse

▪ He can speak French a lot better than I can.

▪ Your bike will run better if you oil it.

→fare better at ↑fare²

2.) to a higher degree

= ↑more

▪ She knows this town better than you do.

▪ I think I like the red one better.

▪ Potter is better known for his TV work.

3.) had better

a) used to give advice about what someone should do or to say what you should do or need to do

▪ I'd better go and get ready.

▪ I think you'd better ask Jo first.

▪ Better just check she's okay.

▪ You had better not tell Oliver (=it is not a good idea) .

b) used to threaten someone

▪ You'd better keep your mouth shut about this.

4.) do better

to perform better or reach a higher standard

▪ We did better than all the other schools.

▪ You can do better than that!

5.) the sooner the better/the bigger the better etc

used to emphasize that you would prefer something to happen as soon as possible, want something to be as big as possible etc

▪ School finishes at the end of the week, and the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.

▪ The younger you start learning a language, the better you'll speak it.

6.) go one better (than sb) informal to do something more successfully than someone else

▪ The following year Lewis went one better by winning the gold medal.

▪ Of course, they had to go one better and have the whole garden redesigned.

→↑better off

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HINT sense 3

In speech, people usually shorten had to 'd, and may not pronounce it at all. But do not leave out had or 'd in writing: You'd better come here (NOT You better)!

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better ³

better³ n

1.) the better

the one that is higher in quality, more suitable etc when you are comparing two similar people or things

▪ It's hard to decide which one's the better.

2.) get the better of sb

a) if your feelings or wishes get the better of you, they make you behave in a way you would not normally behave

▪ My curiosity finally got the better of me and I opened the letter.

▪ I think her nerves got the better of her.

b) to defeat someone or deal successfully with a problem

3.) for the better

in a way that improves the situation

▪ a definite change for the better

▪ The President's fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve) .

4.) so much the better

used to say that something would be even better or bring even more advantages

▪ If they can do them both at the same time, then so much the better.

5.) be all the better for sth

to be improved by a particular action, change etc

▪ I think it's all the better for that extra ten minutes' cooking.

6.) for better or (for) worse

used to say that something must be accepted, whether it is good or bad, because it cannot be changed

▪ Work is, for better or worse, becoming more flexible nowadays.

7.) your betters

old-fashioned people who are more important than you or deserve more respect

→↑worse²

→elders and betters at ↑elder² (2)

better ⁴

better⁴ v [T]

1.) to be higher in quality, amount etc than someone or something else

▪ His total of five gold medals is unlikely to be bettered.

2.) better yourself

to improve your position in society by getting a better education or earning more money

3.) formal to improve something

▪ bettering the lot of the working classes