1bet·ter 
/ˈbɛtɚ/ adjective
comparative form of 1good or of 2well /ˈbɛtɚ/ adjective 1 : higher in quality
▪ Her second book is better than her first one. ▪ This is one of the better [=best] restaurants in this part of town. ▪ Her first book was good, but her second one is even better. = Her second one is better still/yet. ▪ This one is no better than that one. 2 : more skillful
▪ She's a better golfer than I am. ▪ He's a better singer than he is an actor. ▪ He's much better with children now that he's a father himself. 3 : more attractive, appealing, effective, useful, etc.
▪ The weather is better today than it was yesterday. ▪ They came up with a better solution to the problem. ▪ I'd like to get a better [=more accurate and complete] understanding of the problem. ▪ Don't you have something/anything better to do than to watch TV all day? ▪ Her work wasn't that good at first, but it's getting better. ▪ Her work just keeps getting better and better. ▪ There's nothing better than a cold drink of water when you're really thirsty. ▪ My salary isn't very high, but it's better than nothing. ▪ “Suppose I move it a little to the left.” “Yes, that's better! It looks much better like that.” ▪ You could write to her, or, even/still better, visit her in person. ◊Someone or something that has seen/known better days was better in the past than now.
▪ My old car has seen better days. ◊People say the sooner the better, the bigger the better, the faster the better, etc., when they want something to happen as soon as possible, to be as big as possible, to go as fast as possible, etc.
▪ “They say the cold weather will end soon.” “Well, the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.” 4 : more morally right or good : more deserving of praise
▪ You're a better man than I am. ▪ “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859) ▪ If you ask me, he's hardly/little/no better than a common criminal. 5 a : improved in health
▪ I was sick but now I'm better. [=now I'm well] ▪ I'm feeling all/completely better. ▪ I'm somewhat/slightly better than (I was) yesterday, but I'm not fully recovered. ▪ My cold is a little better today. [=my cold is not as bad today; my cold is less severe today] ▪ I'm sorry to hear that you're sick. I hope you feel/get better soon. ▪ He was feeling sick yesterday, and he's no better today. [=he's still feeling sick today]
b : happier or more pleased
▪ Your support makes me feel better about doing what I've done. 6 — used to suggest that something should or should not be done ▪ It would be better for you to leave now [=you should leave now] if you want to get there on time. ▪ It would be better not to wait too long.
▪ Her second book is better than her first one. ▪ This is one of the better [=best] restaurants in this part of town. ▪ Her first book was good, but her second one is even better. = Her second one is better still/yet. ▪ This one is no better than that one.
▪ She's a better golfer than I am. ▪ He's a better singer than he is an actor. ▪ He's much better with children now that he's a father himself.
▪ The weather is better today than it was yesterday. ▪ They came up with a better solution to the problem. ▪ I'd like to get a better [=more accurate and complete] understanding of the problem. ▪ Don't you have something/anything better to do than to watch TV all day? ▪ Her work wasn't that good at first, but it's getting better. ▪ Her work just keeps getting better and better. ▪ There's nothing better than a cold drink of water when you're really thirsty. ▪ My salary isn't very high, but it's better than nothing. ▪ “Suppose I move it a little to the left.” “Yes, that's better! It looks much better like that.” ▪ You could write to her, or, even/still better, visit her in person. ◊Someone or something that has seen/known better days was better in the past than now.
▪ My old car has seen better days. ◊People say the sooner the better, the bigger the better, the faster the better, etc., when they want something to happen as soon as possible, to be as big as possible, to go as fast as possible, etc.
▪ “They say the cold weather will end soon.” “Well, the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.”
▪ You're a better man than I am. ▪ “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859) ▪ If you ask me, he's hardly/little/no better than a common criminal.
▪ I was sick but now I'm better. [=now I'm well] ▪ I'm feeling all/completely better. ▪ I'm somewhat/slightly better than (I was) yesterday, but I'm not fully recovered. ▪ My cold is a little better today. [=my cold is not as bad today; my cold is less severe today] ▪ I'm sorry to hear that you're sick. I hope you feel/get better soon. ▪ He was feeling sick yesterday, and he's no better today. [=he's still feeling sick today]
b : happier or more pleased
▪ Your support makes me feel better about doing what I've done.
better luck next time — see 1luck
the better part of — see 1part
