better
(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
How often you will meet it
Rank 199 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 116,117 times across 173,849 chapters — 0.055% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- (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 You're a better man than I am, Gunga Dina better coat
- (comparative of “good”) changed for the better in health or fitness her health is better nowI feel better
- (comparative and superlative of “well”) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable also: best it would be better to speak to himthe White House thought it best not to respond
- more than half argued for the better part of an hour
verb
- surpass in excellence also: break She bettered her own recordbreak a record
- to make better also: improve, amend, ameliorate, meliorate The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
- get better also: improve, ameliorate, meliorate The weather improved toward evening
adverb
- comparative of “well”; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc. She had never sung bettera deed better left undone
better in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The sooner I left her house the better.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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However, my condition was better than I thought it to be, as will soon appear.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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The man with him was a stranger, and Jason understood better now what was going on.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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Afterwards, when I knew him better, I understood his apparent unconcern of any suggestion counter to his own.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1