better


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better

more useful, desirable or suitable: This is a much better choice.
Not to be confused with:
bettor – one who makes a wager: The bettor goes to Las Vegas as often as he can. Some words with the prefix bi- have no standard usage and need to be qualified whenever they are used. For instance, if you called for a biweekly meeting, you’d have to explain whether you meant two times a week or every other week.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

bet·ter 1

(bĕt′ər)
adj. Comparative of good.
1. Greater in excellence or higher in quality: Which of the twins is the better skater?
2. More useful, suitable, or desirable: found a better way to go; a suit with a better fit than that one.
3. More highly skilled or adept: I am better at math than English.
4. Greater or larger: argued for the better part of an hour.
5. More advantageous or favorable; improved: a better chance of success.
6. Healthier, more fit, or in less discomfort than before: The patient is better today.
adv. Comparative of well2.
1. In a more excellent way: He sings better than his father.
2.
a. To a greater extent or degree: better suited to the job; likes it better without sauce.
b. To greater advantage; preferably: a deed better left undone. See Usage Notes at best, have, rather.
3. More: It took me better than a year to recover.
n.
1. One that is greater in excellence or higher in quality.
2. often betters A superior, as in standing, competence, or intelligence: to learn from one's betters.
v. bet·tered, bet·ter·ing, bet·ters
v. tr.
1. To make better; improve: trying to better conditions in the prison; bettered myself by changing jobs.
2. To surpass or exceed: practiced so he could better his rival.
v. intr.
To become better: Conditions bettered with time.
Idioms:
better off
In a better or more prosperous condition: would be better off taking the train instead of driving; felt better off after the rise in stock prices.
for the better
Resulting in or aiming at an improvement: Her condition took a turn for the better.
get (or have) the better of
To outdo or outwit; defeat.
think better of
To change one's mind about (a course of action) after reconsideration: I almost bought an expensive watch, but then I thought better of it.

[Middle English, from Old English betera; see bhad- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

bet·ter 2

 (bĕt′ər)
n.
Variant of bettor.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

better

(ˈbɛtə)
adj
1. the comparative of good
2. more excellent than other members of a particular group, category, etc
3. more suitable, advantageous, attractive, etc
4. improved in health
5. fully recovered in health
6. in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
7. better off in more favourable circumstances, esp financially
8. the better part of a large part of: the better part of a day.
adv
9. the comparative of well1
10. in a more excellent manner; more advantageously, attractively, etc
11. in or to a greater degree or extent; more: she is better loved than her sister.
12. go one better (Brit intr; US tr) to outdo (a person) or improve upon (someone else's effort)
13. had better would be wise, sensible, etc to: I had better be off.
14. know better than to not to be so stupid as to
15. think better of
a. to change one's course of action after reconsideration
b. to rate (a person) more highly
n
16. the better something that is the more excellent, useful, etc, of two such things
17. (usually plural) a person who is superior, esp in social standing or ability
18. all the better for improved as a result of
19. all the better to more suitable to
20. for better for worse whatever the subsequent events or changes may be
21. for the better by way of improvement: a change for the better.
22. get the better of to defeat, outwit, or surpass
23. the better of Irish having recovered from: I'm not the better of it yet.
vb
24. to make or become better
25. (tr) to improve upon; surpass
[Old English betera; related to Old Norse betri, Gothic batiza, Old High German beziro]

better

(ˈbɛtə) or

bettor

n
a person who bets
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bet•ter1

(ˈbɛt ər)
adj.
1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat.
2. morally superior: no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
adv. compar. of well with best as superl.
6. in a more appropriate manner: to behave better.
7. to a greater degree; more completely: knows the way better than I.
8. more: lives better than a mile away.
v.t.
9. to make better; improve: to better the lot of the needy.
10. to improve upon: bettered last year's production record.
n.
11. something that is preferable: the better of two choices.
12. Usu., betters. those superior to oneself.
Idioms:
1. better off,
a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier.
2. get or have the better of,
a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.
3. go (someone) one better, to exceed another's efforts; surpass.
4. had better or best, ought to.
[before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra]
syn: See improve.

bet•ter2

(ˈbɛt ər)

n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

better

1. used as a comparative

Better is the comparative form of both good and well. Don't say that something is 'more good' or is done 'more well'. You say that it is better or is done better.

The results were better than expected.
Some people could ski better than others.

You can use words such as even, far, a lot, and much in front of better.

Bernard knew him even better than Annette did.
I decided that it would be far better just to wait.
I always feel much better after a bath.
2. another meaning of 'better'

You can also say that someone is better, or is feeling better. This means that they are recovering, or that they have recovered, from an illness or injury.

Her cold was better.
The doctor thinks I'll be better by the weekend.
3. 'had better'

If you say that someone had better do something, you mean that they ought to do it. Had better is always followed by an infinitive without to. People usually shorten had to 'd. They say 'I'd better', 'We'd better', and 'You'd better'.

I 'd better introduce myself.
We'd better go.

Be Careful!
You must use had or 'd in sentences like these. Don't say 'I better introduce myself' or 'I better go'.

In negative sentences, not goes after had better.

We'd better not tell him what happened.

Be Careful!
Don't say that someone 'hadn't better' do something.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

better


Past participle: bettered
Gerund: bettering

Imperative
better
better
Present
I better
you better
he/she/it betters
we better
you better
they better
Preterite
I bettered
you bettered
he/she/it bettered
we bettered
you bettered
they bettered
Present Continuous
I am bettering
you are bettering
he/she/it is bettering
we are bettering
you are bettering
they are bettering
Present Perfect
I have bettered
you have bettered
he/she/it has bettered
we have bettered
you have bettered
they have bettered
Past Continuous
I was bettering
you were bettering
he/she/it was bettering
we were bettering
you were bettering
they were bettering
Past Perfect
I had bettered
you had bettered
he/she/it had bettered
we had bettered
you had bettered
they had bettered
Future
I will better
you will better
he/she/it will better
we will better
you will better
they will better
Future Perfect
I will have bettered
you will have bettered
he/she/it will have bettered
we will have bettered
you will have bettered
they will have bettered
Future Continuous
I will be bettering
you will be bettering
he/she/it will be bettering
we will be bettering
you will be bettering
they will be bettering
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been bettering
you have been bettering
he/she/it has been bettering
we have been bettering
you have been bettering
they have been bettering
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been bettering
you will have been bettering
he/she/it will have been bettering
we will have been bettering
you will have been bettering
they will have been bettering
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been bettering
you had been bettering
he/she/it had been bettering
we had been bettering
you had been bettering
they had been bettering
Conditional
I would better
you would better
he/she/it would better
we would better
you would better
they would better
Past Conditional
I would have bettered
you would have bettered
he/she/it would have bettered
we would have bettered
you would have bettered
they would have bettered
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.better - something superior in quality or condition or effect; "a change for the better"
goodness, good - that which is pleasing or valuable or useful; "weigh the good against the bad"; "among the highest goods of all are happiness and self-realization"
2.better - someone who betsbetter - someone who bets      
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
gambler - a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
3.better - a superior person having claim to precedencebetter - a superior person having claim to precedence; "the common man has been kept in his place by his betters"
higher-up, superior, superordinate - one of greater rank or station or quality
4.better - the superior one of two alternatives; "chose the better of the two"
goodness, good - that which is pleasing or valuable or useful; "weigh the good against the bad"; "among the highest goods of all are happiness and self-realization"
Verb1.better - surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record"
outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surpass, exceed, surmount - be or do something to a greater degree; "her performance surpasses that of any other student I know"; "She outdoes all other athletes"; "This exceeds all my expectations"; "This car outperforms all others in its class"
2.better - to make betterbetter - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"
alleviate, relieve, palliate, assuage - provide physical relief, as from pain; "This pill will relieve your headaches"
aid, help - improve the condition of; "These pills will help the patient"
revitalize, regenerate - restore strength; "This food revitalized the patient"
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
enrich - make better or improve in quality; "The experience enriched her understanding"; "enriched foods"
build up, develop - change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up"
ameliorate, improve, meliorate, better - get better; "The weather improved toward evening"
turn around - improve dramatically; "The new strategy turned around sales"; "The tutor turned around my son's performance in math"
help - improve; change for the better; "New slipcovers will help the old living room furniture"
upgrade - to improve what was old or outdated; "I've upgraded my computer so I can run better software"; "The company upgraded their personnel"
condition - put into a better state; "he conditions old cars"
emend - make improvements or corrections to; "the text was emended in the second edition"
iron out, put right, straighten out - settle or put right; "we need to iron out our disagreements"
enhance - make better or more attractive; "This sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat"
fix, furbish up, mend, repair, bushel, doctor, touch on, restore - restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; "She repaired her TV set"; "Repair my shoes please"
reform - make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices; "reform a political system"
reform - improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition; "reform the health system in this country"
beautify, fancify, prettify, embellish - make more beautiful
build - improve the cleansing action of; "build detergents"
perfect, hone - make perfect or complete; "perfect your French in Paris!"
fine-tune, refine, polish, down - improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's style of writing"
distill, make pure, purify, sublimate - remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; "purify the water"
fructify - make productive or fruitful; "The earth that he fructified"
lift, raise - invigorate or heighten; "lift my spirits"; "lift his ego"
advance - develop further; "We are advancing technology every day"
upgrade - give better travel conditions to; "The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full"
educate - give an education to; "We must educate our youngsters better"
aggravate, exacerbate, worsen, exasperate - make worse; "This drug aggravates the pain"
3.better - get betterbetter - get better; "The weather improved toward evening"
convalesce, recover, recuperate - get over an illness or shock; "The patient is recuperating"
heal - get healthy again; "The wound is healing slowly"
change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election"
see the light, straighten out, reform - change for the better; "The lazy student promised to reform"; "the habitual cheater finally saw the light"
surge - see one's performance improve; "He levelled the score and then surged ahead"
turn around, pick up - improve significantly; go from bad to good; "Her performance in school picked up"
ameliorate, improve, meliorate, amend, better - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"
bounce back, get well, get over - improve in health; "He got well fast"
heal, mend - heal or recover; "My broken leg is mending"
fructify - become productive or fruitful; "The seeds fructified"
upgrade - get better travel conditions; "I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked"
decline, worsen - grow worse; "Conditions in the slum worsened"
Adj.1.better - (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitabilitybetter - (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"
comparative, comparative degree - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'"
worse - (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying"
2.better - (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitnessbetter - (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better"
comparative, comparative degree - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'"
worsened, worse - changed for the worse in health or fitness; "I feel worse today"; "her cold is worse"
3.better - (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; "it would be better to speak to him"; "the White House thought it best not to respond"
comparative, comparative degree - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'"
advisable - worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise; "such action is neither necessary nor advisable"; "extreme caution is advisable"; "it is advisable to telephone first"
4.better - more than half; "argued for the better part of an hour"
major - greater in number or size or amount; "a major portion (a majority) of the population"; "Ursa Major"; "a major portion of the winnings"
Adv.1.better - 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"
2.better - from a position of superiority or authority; "father knows best"; "I know better."
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

better

adverb
1. to a greater degree, more completely, more thoroughly I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught.
2. in a more excellent manner, more effectively, more attractively, more advantageously, more competently, in a superior way If we had played better we might have won.
in a more excellent manner worse
adjective
1. well, stronger, improving, progressing, recovering, healthier, cured, mending, fitter, fully recovered, on the mend (informal), more healthy, less ill He is better now.
well worse
2. superior, finer, nicer, worthier, higher-quality, surpassing, preferable, more appropriate, more useful, more valuable, more suitable, more desirable, streets ahead, more fitting, more expert I've been able to have a better car than I otherwise could have.
superior worse, lesser, inferior, substandard
verb
1. beat, top, exceed, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, trump, improve on or upon, cap (informal) He bettered the old record of 4 minutes 24.
2. improve, further, raise, forward, reform, advance, promote, correct, enhance, upgrade, amend, mend, rectify, augment, ameliorate, meliorate Our parents came here with the hope of bettering themselves. improve lower, depress, weaken, worsen, lessen, impoverish, devaluate
get the better of someone defeat, beat, surpass, triumph over, outdo, trounce, outwit, best, subjugate, prevail over, outsmart (informal), get the upper hand, score off, run rings around (informal), wipe the floor with (informal), make mincemeat of (informal), blow out of the water (slang) He usually gets the better of them.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

better 1

adjective
1. Of greater excellence than another:
2. Much more than half:
adverb
To a greater extent:
noun
1. One who stands above another in rank:
Informal: higher-up.
2. A dominating position, as in a conflict:
Informal: inside track, jump.
verb
1. To advance to a more desirable state:
2. To be greater or better than:
Informal: beat.

better 2

noun
See bettor
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أَحْسَنأَفْضَلأَفْضَل، أحْسَنالأفْضَلُبصورة بِصورَةٍ أفْضَل
lepšílépeten/ta lepšízlepšit
bedrebedsteføle sig bedreforbedrehave det bedre
بهتر
parempiparemmin
boljebolji
jobbjobbanjobbikelõnyösebb
betribeturbæta; batnabetra, æskilegra
よりよいよりよく前より具合が良い
더 잘더 좋은
melior
didesnioji dalisgeresnisgeriaulaimingesnispagerėti
labāklabākaislabāksuzlabotuzlaboties
îmbunătăţimai bine
lepšílepšie
boljeboljši
bättreförbättra
ดีกว่าดีขึ้นมาตรฐานที่ดีกว่า
daha iyidaha iyisiıslah etmekiyileş mek
tốt hơn

better

1 [ˈbetəʳ]
A. ADJ COMPAR of goodmejor
he is better than youes mejor que tú
he's much better (Med) → está mucho mejor
that's better!¡eso es!
it is better to + INFINmás vale + infin
better and bettercada vez mejor
she is better at dancing than her sisterse le da mejor bailar a ella que a su hermana
it couldn't be betterno podría ser mejor
these products are better for the environmentestos productos son mejores para el medio ambiente
to get bettermejorar (Med) → mejorar(se), reponerse
he's no better than a thiefno es más que un ladrón
she's no better than she ought to be (o.f.) → es una mujer que tiene historia
to go one betterhacer mejor todavía (than que)
it lasted the better part of a yearduró la mayor parte del año
the sooner the bettercuanto antes mejor
it would be better to go nowsería mejor irse ya
see also half A1
see also nature A2
see also day A3
B. ADV COMPAR of wellmejor
all the bettertanto mejor
so you're both coming - all the better!así es que venís los dos, ¡tanto mejor!
I feel all the better for having confided in someoneme siento mucho mejor después de haberme confiado a alguien
he was all the better for itle hizo mucho bien
it would be all the better for a drop of paintno le vendría mal una mano de pintura
I had better gomás vale que me vaya, mejor me vaya (esp LAm)
he thinks he knows bettercree que se lo sabe todo
at his age he ought to know bettera la edad que tiene debería tener más juicio
but he knew better than topero sabía que no se debía ...
he knows better than the expertssabe más que los expertos
they are better off than we areestán mejor de dinero que nosotros
you'd be better off staying where you arete convendría más quedarte
so much the bettertanto mejor
write to her or, better still, go and see herescríbele o, mejor aún, vete a verla
they withdrew, the better to resistse retiraron para poder resistir mejor
to think better of itcambiar de parecer
see also late A3
C. N
1.el/la mejor
it's a change for the betteres una mejora
to get the better of (= beat) → vencer, quedar por encima de
for better or worsepara bien o mal
2. my bettersmis superiores
D. VTmejorar; [+ record, score] → superar
to better o.s (financially) → mejorar su posición; (culturally, educationally) → superarse

better

2 [ˈbetəʳ] N (= gambler) → apostador(a) m/f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

better

[ˈbɛtər]
adj comparative
(= superior) → meilleur(e)
This one's better than that one → Celui-ci est meilleur que celui-là.
a better way to do it → une meilleure façon de le faire
that's better! → c'est mieux comme ça!
better still → encore mieux
Go and see her tomorrow, or better still, go today → Va la voir demain, ou encore mieux, vas-y aujourd'hui.
it would be better to ... → il vaudrait mieux ...
to be better doing sth (= better off) → avoir avantage à faire qch
You're better waiting till tomorrow → Tu aurais avantage à attendre jusqu'à demain.
to get better (= recover) [sick person] → se remettre, se rétablir
I hope you get better soon → J'espère que tu vas vite te remettre. (= improve) [person, situation] → s'améliorer
I hope the weather gets better soon → J'espère que le temps va s'améliorer bientôt.
My French is getting better → Mon français s'améliore.
to be better [sick person, patient] → aller mieux
adv
(= in a better way) → mieux
to feel better [person] → se sentir mieux
Are you feeling better now? → Tu te sens mieux maintenant?
you'd better, you had better
You'd better do it straight away → Vous feriez mieux de le faire immédiatement.
I'd better go home → Je ferais mieux de rentrer.
I had better go → Il vaudrait mieux que je m'en aille.
to like better (= prefer) → préférer
to like sth/sb better than → préférer qch/qn à
to know better than sb → en savoir plus que qn
to know better than to do sth → bien se garder de faire qch
to go one better → faire mieux
the better to do sth (= so as to) → pour mieux faire qch
vt
(= exceed) [+ figures, record] → améliorer; [+ score] → battre
to better o.s. (= improve) → s'améliorer, améliorer sa condition
n
to get the better of sb [jealousy, anger] → l'emporter sur qn
My curiosity got the better of me → Ma curiosité l'a emporté.; [competitor, opponent] → triompher de qn
a change for the better → une amélioration
to change for the better (= get better) → s'améliorer
to change sth for the better → améliorer qch
to think better of it → changer d'opinion, se raviser
all the better, so much the better → tant mieux
for better or worse, for better or for worse → pour le meilleur ou pour le pire
the bigger the better → le plus grand le mieux
the sooner the better → le plus tôt le mieux
the smaller the better → le plus petit le mieux
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

better

1
nWetter(in) m(f)

better

2
adj comp of goodbesser; route, way alsogünstiger; he’s better (= recovered)es geht ihm wieder besser; he’s much betteres geht ihm viel besser; the patient/his foot is getting betterdem Patienten/seinem Fuß geht es schon viel besser; I hope you get better soonhoffentlich sind Sie bald wieder gesund; better and betterimmer besser; that’s better! (approval) → so ist es besser!; (relief etc) → so!; to be better than one’s wordmehr tun, als man versprochen hat; it couldn’t be betteres könnte gar nicht besser sein; I couldn’t be betteres könnte mir gar nicht besser gehen; I am none the better for itdas hilft mir auch nicht; she is no better than she ought to besie ist auch keine Heilige; the better part of an hour/my money/our tripfast eine Stunde/fast mein ganzes Geld/fast die ganze Reise; it would be better to go earlyes wäre besser, früh zu gehen; you would be better to go earlySie gehen besser früh; to go one bettereinen Schritt weiter gehen; (in offer) → höher gehen; this hat has seen better daysdieser Hut hat auch schon bessere Tage gesehen (inf)
adv comp of well
besser; likelieber, mehr; enjoymehr; they are better off than we aresie sind besser dran als wir; he is better off where he isfür ihn ist es besser, da zu sein, wo er ist, er ist besser dran, wo er ist (inf); you would do better or be better advised to go earlySie sollten lieber früh gehen; to think better of ites sich (dat)noch einmal überlegen; I didn’t think any better of him for thatdeswegen hielt ich auch nicht mehr von ihm ? know, late
I had better goich gehe jetzt wohl besser; you’d better do what he saystun Sie lieber, was er sagt; I’d better answer that letter soonich beantworte den Brief lieber or besser bald; I won’t touch it — you’d better not!ich fasse es nicht an — das will ich dir auch geraten haben
n
one’s bettersLeute, die über einem stehen; (socially also) → Höhergestellte pl, → höher Gestellte pl; that’s no way to talk to your bettersman muss immer wissen, wen man vor sich (dat)hat; respect for one’s bettersAchtung fRespektspersonen gegenüber
(= person, object) the betterder/die/das Bessere
it’s a change for the betteres ist eine Wendung zum Guten; to think (all) the better of somebody(um so) mehr von jdm halten; all the better, so much the betterumso besser; it would be all the better for a drop of paintein bisschen Farbe würde Wunder wirken; the bigger/sooner the betterje größer/eher, desto besser; it’s done now, for better or worseso oder so, es ist geschehen; for better, for worse (in marriage ceremony) → in Freud und Leid; to get the better of somebody (person)jdn unterkriegen (inf); (illness)jdn erwischen (inf); (problem etc)jdm schwer zu schaffen machen
vt (= improve on)verbessern; (= surpass)übertreffen
vr (= increase one’s knowledge)sich weiterbilden; (in social scale) → sich verbessern
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

better

1 [ˈbɛtəʳ]
1. adj (good (comp of)) → migliore
I'm better at German than French → riesco meglio in tedesco che in francese
he's better than his brother at mending cars → è più bravo di suo fratello ad aggiustare le macchine
are you better now? (in health) → stai meglio adesso?
to get better → migliorare (Med) → star meglio, rimettersi
that's better! → così va meglio!
it couldn't be better → non potrebbe andar meglio (di così)
it would be better to go now → sarebbe meglio andare adesso
he's no better than a thief → non è né più né meno che un ladro
it lasted the better part of a year → è durato quasi un anno
2. adv (well (comp of)) → meglio
he speaks French better than Italian/his brother → parla il francese meglio dell'italiano/di suo fratello
better known → meglio or più conosciuto/a
so much the better, all the better → tanto meglio, meglio così
he was all the better for it → ci ha guadagnato, gli ha fatto molto bene
they are better off than we are → stanno meglio di noi
you'd be better off staying where you are → faresti meglio a restare dove sei
I had better go → dovrei andare
hadn't you better ask him? → non sarebbe meglio se lo chiedessi a lui?
to think better of it → cambiare idea
3. n a change for the betterun cambiamento in meglio
for better or worse → nella buona o nella cattiva sorte
to get the better of sb → avere la meglio su qn
one's betters → i propri superiori
4. vtmigliorare
to better o.s. → migliorare la propria condizione

better

2 [ˈbɛtəʳ] nscommettitore m
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

better

(ˈbetə) adjective
1. good to a greater extent. His new car is better than his old one.
2. stronger in health; recovered (from an illness). I feel better today; She's better now.
3. preferable. Better to do it now than later.
adverb
well to a greater extent. He sings better now than he did before.
pronoun
someone or something which is good to a greater extent than the other (of two people or things). He's the better of the two.
verb
to improve (on). He's bettered all previous records; The situation has bettered a little.
better off
richer; happier in some way. He'd be better off working as a miner; You'd be better off without him.
the better part of
most of. He talked for the better part of an hour.
get the better of
to overcome; to win (against). He got the better of his opponent / the argument.

He is better today (not He is more better). He is much better is correct.
You had better come / You'd better come (not You better come).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

better

أَحْسَن, أَفْضَل lépe, lepší bedre besser καλύτερα, καλύτερος mejor paremmin, parempi meilleur, mieux bolje, bolji meglio, migliore よりよい, よりよく, 前より具合が良い 더 잘, 더 좋은 beter bedre, god lepiej, lepszy melhor лучше, лучший, поправившийся bättre ดีกว่า, ดีขึ้น, มาตรฐานที่ดีกว่า daha iyi, daha iyisi tốt hơn 好转的, 更好地, 较好的
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

better

a. comp. mejor, superior; [better than] mejor que;
so much the ___tanto mejor;
vi.
to be ___estar mejor, ponerse mejor;
to be ___ thanser mejor que;
to be ___ than beforeestar, ser mejor que antes;
to change for the ___recuperarse, restablecerse;
to like ___preferir;
to make ___mejorar, aliviar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

better

(comp de good y well) adj & adv mejor; to get — (patient) recuperarse, (pain) aliviarse, (wound) sanar, (illness, cough, etc.) mejorar; to make — aliviar, mejorar
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Many a night he vaguely and unhappily wandered there, when wine had brought no transitory gladness to him; many a dreary daybreak revealed his solitary figure lingering there, and still lingering there when the first beams of the sun brought into strong relief, removed beauties of architecture in spires of churches and lofty buildings, as perhaps the quiet time brought some sense of better things, else forgotten and unattainable, into his mind.
But it seems unlikely that man should be able to adjust that which the law cannot determine; it may be replied, that the law having laid down the best rules possible, leaves the adjustment and application of particulars to the discretion of the magistrate; besides, it allows anything to be altered which experience proves may be better established.
But it is better said in this wise: "The discerning one walketh amongst men AS amongst animals."
But is the just man or the skilful player a more useful and better partner at a game of draughts?
"I shall shake my head when you write, if you don't do it better than you did in making out this catalogue."
The prince thought it might be better for him to move away from his (the prince's) house.
It would have been all the better, as it seemed to Alice, if she had got some one else to dress her, she was so dreadfully untidy.
On these points he would have maintained his opinion against the largest landed proprietor in Loamshire or Stonyshire either; but he felt that beyond these it would be better for him to defer to people who were more knowing than himself.
IT IS generally better to deal by speech than by letter; and by the mediation of a third than by a man's self.
"There are few things better worth the pains in a provincial town like this," said Lydgate.
But he turned again at the door and said, "But you'd better come, you know.
'No - better - better!' he panted, trembling, and retaining her hand as if he needed its support, while his large blue eyes wandered timidly over her; the hollowness round them transforming to haggard wildness the languid expression they once possessed.

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