Better Definition

bĕtər

betters

adjective

Greater in excellence or higher in quality.

American Heritage

Compar. of good.

Webster's New World

More useful, suitable, or desirable.

Found a better way to go; a suit with a better fit than that one.

American Heritage

Of a more excellent sort; surpassing another or others.

Webster's New World

More highly skilled or adept.

I am better at math than English.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
bonnier
nicer
pleasanter
kindlier
brighter
fairer
safer
abler
completer
rounder
fuller
juster
sounder
fitter
truer

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
meaner
worse
littler
tinier
smaller
corrupter
falser
sicker
unhealthy
more ill
viler
naughtier

adverb

In a more excellent way.

American Heritage

Well.

Webster's New World

To a greater extent or degree.

Better suited to the job; likes it better without sauce.

American Heritage

In a more excellent manner; in a more suitable way.

Webster's New World

To greater advantage; preferably.

A deed better left undone.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
best
more

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
worse

noun

betters

One that is greater in excellence or higher in quality.

American Heritage

A person superior in authority, position, etc.

Obey your betters.

Webster's New World

A superior, as in standing, competence, or intelligence.

To learn from one's betters.

American Heritage

The thing, condition, circumstance, action, etc. that is more excellent, more suitable, etc.

Webster's New World

Advantage.

To get the better of a rival.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

betters

To outdo; surpass.

Webster's New World

To become better.

Webster's New World

To surpass or exceed.

Practiced so he could better his rival.

American Heritage

To make better; improve.

Webster's New World

To improve.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
deteriorate
get worse
worsen

idiom

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.

American Heritage

for the better

Resulting in or aiming at an improvement:
Her condition took a turn for the better.

American Heritage

get

To outdo or outwit; defeat.

American Heritage

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.

American Heritage

better off

in a better situation or condition
having more income, wealth, etc.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Better

Noun

Singular:

better

Plural:

betters

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Better

Origin of Better

From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- (“good”). Cognate with Sanskrit भद्र (bhadrá, “blessed, fortunate, happy, good”). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Verb is from Middle English beteren, from Old English beterian (“to make better, improve”). Related to best. Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), Icelandic bót (“improvement”). More at batten, boot.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English betera bhad- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Alternate pronunciation of bettor or modern formation from the verb to bet.

From Wiktionary