BETTER

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does better mean? 

• BETTER (noun)
  The noun BETTER has 3 senses:

1. someone who bets
2. a superior person having claim to precedence
3. the superior one of two alternatives

  Familiarity information: BETTER used as a noun is uncommon.

• BETTER (adjective)
  The adjective BETTER has 4 senses:

1. (comparative of 'good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
2. (comparative of 'good') changed for the better in health or fitness
3. (comparative and superlative of 'well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
4. more than half

  Familiarity information: BETTER used as an adjective is uncommon.

• BETTER (verb)
  The verb BETTER has 3 senses:

1. surpass in excellence
2. to make better
3. get better

  Familiarity information: BETTER used as a verb is uncommon.

• BETTER (adverb)
  The adverb BETTER has 2 senses:

1. comparative of 'well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.
2. from a position of superiority or authority

  Familiarity information: BETTER used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BETTER (noun)

Meaning:

Someone who bets

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

better; bettor; wagerer; punter

Hypernyms ("better" is a kind of...):

gambler (a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "better"):

taker (one who takes a bet or wager)

caller (the bettor in a card game who matches the bet and calls for a show of hands)

Meaning:

A superior person having claim to precedence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

the common man has been kept in his place by his betters

Hypernyms ("better" is a kind of...):

higher-up; superior; superordinate (one of greater rank or station or quality)

Meaning:

The superior one of two alternatives

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

chose the better of the two

Hypernyms ("better" is a kind of...):

good; goodness (that which is pleasing or valuable or useful)

• BETTER (adjective)

Meaning:

(comparative of 'good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

Context examples:

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din / a better coat / a better type of car / a suit with a better fit / a better chance of success / produced a better mousetrap / she's better in math than in history

Similar:

amended (modified for the better)

finer ((comparative of 'fine') greater in quality or excellence)

improved (become or made better in quality)

Domain usage:

comparative (the comparative form of an adjective)

Antonym:

worse ((comparative of 'bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability)

Meaning:

(comparative of 'good') changed for the better in health or fitness

Context examples:

her health is better now / I feel better

Similar:

fitter; healthier (improved in health or physical condition)

Domain usage:

comparative (the comparative form of an adjective)

Antonym:

worse (changed for the worse in health or fitness)

Meaning:

(comparative and superlative of 'well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable

Synonyms:

best; better

Context examples:

it would be better to speak to him / the White House thought it best not to respond

Similar:

advisable (worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise)

Domain usage:

comparative (the comparative form of an adjective)

Meaning:

More than half

Context example:

argued for the better part of an hour

Similar:

major (greater in number or size or amount)

• BETTER (verb)

Meaning:

Surpass in excellence

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

better; break

Context examples:

She bettered her own record / break a record

Hypernyms (to "better" is one way to...):

exceed; outdo; outgo; outmatch; outperform; outstrip; surmount; surpass (be or do something to a greater degree)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

To make better

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

ameliorate; meliorate; improve; better; amend

Context example:

The editor improved the manuscript with his changes

Hypernyms (to "better" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Cause:

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "better"):

reform (make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices)

reform (improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition)

beautify; embellish; fancify; prettify (make more beautiful)

build (improve the cleansing action of)

hone; perfect (make perfect or complete)

down; fine-tune; polish; refine (improve or perfect by pruning or polishing)

distill; make pure; purify; sublimate (remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation)

fructify (make productive or fruitful)

lift; raise (invigorate or heighten)

advance (develop further)

upgrade (give better travel conditions to)

bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

enhance (make better or more attractive)

alleviate; assuage; palliate; relieve (provide physical relief, as from pain)

aid; help (improve the condition of)

regenerate; revitalize (restore strength)

enrich (make better or improve in quality)

build up; develop (change the use of and make available or usable)

turn around (cause to get better)

help (improve; change for the better)

upgrade (to improve what was old or outdated)

condition (put into a better state)

emend (make improvements or corrections to)

iron out; put right; straighten out (settle or put right)

educate (give an education to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

worsen (make worse)

Meaning:

Get better

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

meliorate; improve; ameliorate; better

Context example:

The weather improved toward evening

Hypernyms (to "better" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "better"):

upgrade (get better travel conditions)

fructify (become productive or fruitful)

heal; mend (heal or recover)

bounce back; get over; get well (improve in health)

pick up; turn around (get better)

surge (see one's performance improve)

reform; see the light; straighten out (change for the better)

heal (get healthy again)

convalesce; recover; recuperate (get over an illness or shock)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Antonym:

worsen (grow worse)

• BETTER (adverb)

Meaning:

Comparative of 'well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.

Context examples:

She had never sung better / a deed better left undone / better suited to the job

Meaning:

From a position of superiority or authority

Synonyms:

better; best

Context examples:

father knows best / I know better.