adj

better

BEHT-uh

adj

Of higher quality, more suitable, or more desirable than something else being compared.

"This laptop has a better battery life than my old one."

"She felt much better after a good night's sleep."

verb

To make something improve, or to improve on a previous result.

"He bettered his personal best by two seconds."

"The company is always looking to better its customer service."

noun

Someone or something regarded as superior to another.

"She proved herself the better of the two candidates."

How to Use Better

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe comparative form of "good" — used for comparing two things, and as a verb meaning "to improve" or "to beat."

Common mistake

Don't confuse the verb "to better" (improve) with "bettor," a person who places a bet, or with "batter."

Easily confused with

bettor batter →

Common pairings

for the better better off better yet get better

bettered past tense, betters plural, better plural, bettered plural, betters singular, better singular, bettered singular

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This laptop has a _____ battery life than my old one.

From Old English betera, going back to a Germanic root meaning "good," the same ancestor that gives us "best" and, more distantly, "battle."

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