# better

Pronunciation: US say "BET-ur" /ˈbɛt.əɹ/; UK say "BET-uh" /ˈbɛt.ə/

## Adjective

1. Comparative of good. Of higher quality, more suitable, or more advantageous. — comparative form of good: more good
   - Simple: Comparative of good. Of higher quality, more suitable, or more useful than something else.
   - _Critics agreed the sequel was better than the original film._
   - _A handwritten note often makes a better impression than an email._
3. Healthier than before, or fully recovered from an illness or injury.
   - Simple: Less ill than before, or well again after being sick or hurt.
   - _She stayed home until she was completely better._
   - _He returned to training only once the doctor confirmed he was better._
6. Greater in amount, quantity, or extent.
   - Simple: Making up the larger part or amount of something.
   - _The renovation took the better part of the summer to complete._
   - _He spent the better part of his savings on the trip._

## Adverb

2. Comparative of well: in a more skillful, effective, or successful way, or to a greater degree, as in liking one thing better than another. — comparative form of well: more well
   - Simple: In a more skillful or successful way, or simply more, as in 'I like tea better.' Comparative of well.
   - _He performs better under pressure than in rehearsal._
   - _The engine runs better since the tune-up._

## Verb

4. Ought to; used as a shortened, informal form of "had better" to give firm advice or a warning. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Ought to, used to tell someone strongly what they should do.
   - _You better not say that to her face._
   - _They better hurry, or the gates will close before they arrive._
5. To improve, or to make something improve, in quality, standard, or condition.
   - Simple: To make something better, or to get better, as in better your chances.
   - _He took night classes to better his career prospects._
   - _Many families moved to the city in the hope of bettering their children's lives._
7. To surpass another in excellence; to exceed or outdo.
   - Simple: To beat or go past what someone else has done.
   - _No rival firm could better their bid for the contract._
   - _The young pianist bettered every performance the judges had heard that day._

## Noun

8. A person or thing regarded as superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence.
   - Simple: A person who is above you in rank or skill.
   - _The servants were expected to obey their betters without question._
   - _He bristled at the hint that the newcomer might be his better._

## Verb

9. To advance the interests of someone; to support or give an advantage to. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To help a person or group by giving them an advantage.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–3, 6, 8** — From Middle English "better", from Old English "betera" ("better"), which goes back through Proto-Germanic *batizô to a Proto-Indo-European root *bʰed- ("good"). It is related to "best" and has cognates such as German "besser" and Icelandic "batna" ("to improve").
**Meaning 4** — This is a shortening of "had better" (as in "'d better").
**Meanings 5, 7, 9** — From Middle English "beteren", from Old English "beterian", from Proto-Germanic *batizōną. It has cognates including Dutch "beteren" and German "bessern" ("to better").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/better (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).