better

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Of a higher quality or standard than something else.

   This phone is better than my old one.

2. 2
   adv

   In a more excellent or effective way.

   She sings better than anyone in the choir.

3. 3
   adj

   Healthier or less ill than before.

   I felt much better after a good night's sleep.

4. 4
   verb

   To improve something or make it better.

   Their ideas for bettering the working conditions were well received.

Common collocations

• better known Adverb + adjective

From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-West Germanic *batiʀō, from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed-rós, from *bʰed- (“good”). Cognate with Sanskrit भ॒द्र (bhadrá, “blessed; fortunate; happy; good”) (from *bʰn̥d-ró-s). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Related to best and battle (“getting better; improving; fruitful; fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), bót (“improvement”), German besser. More at batten, boot. False cognate of Persian بهتر (behtar).

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images