Library / English Dictionary

BETTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something superior in quality or condition or effect

Example:

a change for the better

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

The superior one of two alternatives

Example:

chose the better of the two

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

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

Derivation:

better (get better)

better (to make better)

better (surpass in excellence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A superior person having claim to precedence

Example:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

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

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Someone who bets

Synonyms:

better; bettor; punter; wagerer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

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)

Derivation:

bet (stake on the outcome of an issue)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

the White House thought it best not to respond

Synonyms:

best; better

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

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

Domain usage:

comparative; comparative degree (the comparative form of an adjective or adverb)

Sense 2

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

Example:

she's better in math than in history

Classified under:

Adjectives

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; comparative degree (the comparative form of an adjective or adverb)

Antonym:

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Example:

I feel better

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

fitter; healthier (improved in health or physical condition)

Domain usage:

comparative; comparative degree (the comparative form of an adjective or adverb)

Antonym:

worse (changed for the worse in health or fitness)

Sense 4

Meaning:

More than half

Example:

argued for the better part of an hour

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

major (greater in number or size or amount)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get better

Example:

The weather improved toward evening

Synonyms:

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

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

Verb group:

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

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 (improve significantly; go from bad to good)

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)

Derivation:

better (the superior one of two alternatives)

betterment (a change for the better; progress in development)

Sense 2

Meaning:

To make better

Example:

The editor improved the manuscript with his changes

Synonyms:

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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)

Verb group:

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)

educate (give an education 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)

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

emend (make improvements or corrections to)

condition (put into a better state)

upgrade (to improve what was old or outdated)

help (improve; change for the better)

turn around (improve dramatically)

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

enrich (make better or improve in quality)

regenerate; revitalize (restore strength)

aid; help (improve the condition of)

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

Sentence frames:

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

Antonym:

worsen (make worse)

Derivation:

better (the superior one of two alternatives)

betterment (the act of relieving ills and changing for the better)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Surpass in excellence

Example:

break a record

Synonyms:

better; break

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

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

Derivation:

better (the superior one of two alternatives)

 IV. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

better suited to the job

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 2

Meaning:

From a position of superiority or authority

Example:

I know better.

Synonyms:

best; better

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits

 Context examples: 

“If you have anything to say, my man, better say it,” said the captain.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Between them they ran him about for the better part of an hour.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It was a cheap and sordid thing after all, this life, and the sooner over the better.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"Go, ye men, with the dogs and sledges, and take my trail for the better part of a day's travel," he said.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The diseases may also have flare-ups, when they get worse, and remissions, when symptoms get better or disappear.

(Autoimmune Diseases, NIH)

The wolf thought to himself: “What a tender young creature! what a nice plump mouthful—she will be better to eat than the old woman. I must act craftily, so as to catch both.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A drug used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) that has not gotten better or that has come back after treatment with other anticancer drugs.

(Arsenic trioxide, NCI Dictionary)

It is important to keep taking your medicines, even if you feel better.

(Antidepressants, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)

A drug used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has not gotten better with other chemotherapy.

(Arzerra, NCI Dictionary)

It is used in patients who have not gotten better with other anticancer drugs.

(Axitinib, NCI Dictionary)