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better

Something better is improved — like when a more advanced computer comes out, or you feel better after a cold.

When we talk about things being better, we're comparing in a favorable way. A great movie is better than a good or awful movie. With practice, you will get better at a sport or a subject like math. Doctors help patients feel better, and mechanics make a car run better. If 51% or more of the people voted for you, then you had the support of better than half the people. When things are getting better, they're improving.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: better

1
 adjadvnv
(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
comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.
something superior in quality or condition or effect
surpass in excellence
2
 adj
more than half
3
 n
someone who bets
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: better
1

adj (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 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”
Synonyms
amended
modified for the better
finer
(comparative of `fine') greater in quality or excellence
improved
become or made better in quality
Antonyms:
worse
(comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
worsened
made or become worse; impaired
show more antonyms...

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

“her health is better now”
“I feel better”
Synonyms
fitter, healthier
improved in health or physical condition
Antonyms:
worse, worsened
changed for the worse in health or fitness

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

“it would be better to speak to him”
Synonyms:
best
advisable
worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise

adv 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 better”
“a deed better left undone”
“better suited to the job”

adv from a position of superiority or authority

“I know better.”
Synonyms:
best

n something superior in quality or condition or effect

“a change for the better”
Type of:
good, goodness
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful

n the superior one of two alternatives

“chose the better of the two”
Type of:
good, goodness
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful

n a superior person having claim to precedence

“the common man has been kept in his place by his betters”
Type of:
higher-up, superior, superordinate
one of greater rank or station or quality

v surpass in excellence

“She bettered her own record”
Synonyms:
break
Type of:
exceed, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass
be or do something to a greater degree

v to make better

Synonyms:
ameliorate, amend, improve, meliorate
ameliorate, improve, meliorate
get better
Antonyms:
aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate, worsen
make worse
Types:
show 65 types...
hide 65 types...
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
improve dramatically
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
enhance
make better or more attractive
bushel, doctor, fix, furbish up, mend, repair, restore, touch on
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
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
groom, neaten
care for one's external appearance
curry, dress, groom
give a neat appearance to
soothe
cause to feel better
bring around, cure, heal
provide a cure for, make healthy again
comfort, ease
lessen pain or discomfort; alleviate
redevelop
change the plans for the use of (land)
fill out, round out
make bigger or better or more complete
optimise, optimize
make optimal; get the most out of; use best
choke, throttle
reduce the air supply
recondition
bring into an improved condition
follow up
increase the effectiveness or success of by further action
retouch, touch up
alter so as to produce a more desirable appearance
rejuvenate
make younger or more youthful
fiddle, tinker
try to fix or mend
fill
plug with a substance
patch, piece
repair by adding pieces
cobble
repair or mend
point, repoint
repair the joints of bricks
trouble-shoot, troubleshoot
solve problems
patch, patch up
mend by putting a patch on
dress up, window-dress
make something appear superficially attractive
slick up, smarten up, spiff up, spruce, spruce up, titivate, tittivate
make neat, smart, or trim
brush up, polish, polish up, round, round off
bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
over-refine, overrefine
refine too much or with excess of subtlety
rectify, refine
reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
purge
rid of impurities
feed, fertilise, fertilize
provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to
resole, sole
put a new sole on
revamp, vamp
provide (a shoe) with a new vamp
heel, reheel
put a new heel on
settle
establish or develop as a residence
polish, shine, smooth, smoothen
make (a surface) shine
darn
repair by sewing
benefit, do good
be beneficial for
socialise, socialize
train for a social environment
groom, prepare, train
educate for a future role or function
co-educate, coeducate
educate persons of both sexes together
school
educate in or as if in a school
civilise, civilize, cultivate, educate, school, train
teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment
become, suit
enhance the appearance of
Type of:
alter, change, modify
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

v get better

Synonyms:
ameliorate, improve, meliorate
ameliorate, amend, improve, meliorate
to make better
Antonyms:
decline, worsen
grow worse
Types:
show 14 types...
hide 14 types...
convalesce, recover, recuperate
get over an illness or shock
heal
get healthy again
reform, see the light, straighten out
change for the better
surge
see one's performance improve
pick up, turn around
improve significantly; go from bad to good
bounce back, get over, get well
improve in health
heal, mend
heal or recover
fructify
become productive or fruitful
upgrade
get better travel conditions
gain vigor, percolate, perk, perk up, pick up
gain or regain energy
snap back
recover quickly
scab
form a scab
skin over
grow new skin over an injury
granulate
form granulating tissue
Type of:
change state, turn
undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
2

adj more than half

“argued for the better part of an hour”
Synonyms
major
greater in number or size or amount
3

n someone who bets

Synonyms:
bettor, punter, wagerer
Types:
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
Type of:
gambler
a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
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