What is the meaning of better?

noun

  • Something superior in quality or condition or effect.
    • usage: "a change for the better"
  • Someone who bets.
  • A superior person having claim to precedence.
    • usage: "the common man has been kept in his place by his betters"
  • The superior one of two alternatives.
    • usage: "chose the better of the two"

verb

adjective

  • 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. (
    • usage: "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 of `good'. ( changed for the better in health or fitness)
    • usage: "her health is better now"; "I feel better"
  • Comparative and superlative of `well'. ( wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable)
    • usage: "it would be better to speak to him"; "the White House thought it best not to respond"
  • More than half.
    • usage: "argued for the better part of an hour"
  • Having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified.
    • usage: "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"
  • Having the normally expected amount.
    • usage: "gives full measure"; "gives good measure"; "a good mile from here"
  • Morally admirable.
  • Deserving of esteem and respect.
    • usage: "all respectable companies give guarantees"; "ruined the family's good name"
  • Promoting or enhancing well-being.
    • usage: "an arms limitation agreement beneficial to all countries"; "the beneficial effects of a temperate climate"; "the experience was good for her"
  • Agreeable or pleasing.
    • usage: "we all had a good time"; "good manners"
  • Of moral excellence.
    • usage: "a genuinely good person"; "a just cause"; "an upright and respectable man"
  • Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude.
    • usage: "adept in handicrafts"; "an adept juggler"; "an expert job"; "a good mechanic"; "a practiced marksman"; "a proficient engineer"; "a lesser-known but no less skillful composer"; "the effect was achieved by skillful retouching"
  • Thorough.
    • usage: "had a good workout"; "gave the house a good cleaning"
  • With or in a close or intimate relationship.
    • usage: "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
  • Financially sound.
    • usage: "a good investment"; "a secure investment"
  • Most suitable or right for a particular purpose.
    • usage: "a good time to plant tomatoes"; "the right time to act"; "the time is ripe for great sociological changes"
  • Resulting favorably.
    • usage: "it's a good thing that I wasn't there"; "it is good that you stayed"; "it is well that no one saw you"; "all's well that ends well"
  • Exerting force or influence.
    • usage: "the law is effective immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law is already in effect (or in force)"
  • Capable of pleasing.
    • usage: "good looks"
  • Appealing to the mind.
    • usage: "good music"; "a serious book"
  • In excellent physical condition.
    • usage: "good teeth"; "I still have one good leg"; "a sound mind in a sound body"
  • Tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health.
    • usage: "beneficial effects of a balanced diet"; "a good night's sleep"; "the salutary influence of pure air"
  • Not forged.
    • usage: "a good dollar bill"
  • Not left to spoil.
    • usage: "the meat is still good"
  • Generally admired.
    • usage: "good taste"
  • In good health especially after having suffered illness or injury.
    • usage: "appears to be entirely well"; "the wound is nearly well"; "a well man"; "I think I'm well; at least I feel well"
  • Resulting favorably.
    • usage: "it's a good thing that I wasn't there"; "it is good that you stayed"; "it is well that no one saw you"; "all's well that ends well"
  • Wise or advantageous and hence advisable.
    • usage: "it would be well to start early"

adverb

  • Comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc..
    • usage: "She had never sung better"; "a deed better left undone"; "better suited to the job"
  • From a position of superiority or authority.
    • usage: "father knows best"; "I know better."
  • Often used as a combining form. ( in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good' is a nonstandard dialectal variant for `well'))
    • usage: "the children behaved well"; "a task well done"; "the party went well"; "he slept well"; "a well-argued thesis"; "a well-seasoned dish"; "a well-planned party"; "the baby can walk pretty good"
  • Thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form.
    • usage: "The problem is well understood"; "she was well informed"; "shake well before using"; "in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked"; "well-done beef, "well-satisfied customers"; "well-educated"
  • Indicating high probability; in all likelihood.
    • usage: "I might well do it"; "a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster"; "you may well need your umbrella"; "he could equally well be trying to deceive us"
  • Used for emphasis or as an intensifier. ( entirely or fully)
    • usage: "a book well worth reading"; "was well aware of the difficulties ahead"; "suspected only too well what might be going on"
  • To a suitable or appropriate extent or degree.
    • usage: "the project was well underway"; "the fetus has well developed organs"; "his father was well pleased with his grades"
  • Favorably; with approval.
    • usage: "their neighbors spoke well of them"; "he thought well of the book"
  • To a great extent or degree.
    • usage: "I'm afraid the film was well over budget"; "painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger"; "the house has fallen considerably in value"; "the price went up substantially"
  • With great or especially intimate knowledge.
    • usage: "we knew them well"
  • With prudence or propriety.
    • usage: "You would do well to say nothing more"; "could not well refuse"
  • With skill or in a pleasing manner.
    • usage: "she dances well"; "he writes well"
  • In a manner affording benefit or advantage.
    • usage: "she married well"; "The children were settled advantageously in Seattle"
  • In financial comfort.
    • usage: "They live well"; "she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died"
  • Without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor.
    • usage: "took the joke well"; "took the tragic news well"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). better. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/better/definitions/1169213
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "better" http://smartdefine.org/better/definitions/1169213 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, better, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/better/definitions/1169213>.
MLAWordNet. "better" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/better/definitions/1169213>
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