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   bet·ter

   /ˈbedər/

   adjective

   • 1. of a more excellent or effective type or quality: "hoping for better weather" Similar superiorfinerof higher qualitygreaterin a different classone step aheadmore acceptablepreferablerecommendedinformal:a cut abovestreets aheadhead and shoulders aboveahead of the pack/fieldOpposite worseinferior
   • ▪ more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: "there couldn't be a better time to start this job" Similar more advantageousmore suitablemore fittingmore appropriatemore usefulmore valuablemore desirableOpposite worse
   • 2. partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress; less unwell: "his leg was getting better" Similar healthierfitterstrongerless illwellcuredhealedrecoveredconvalescentrecoveringon the road to recoverymaking progressprogressingimprovinginformal:on the mendlooking upOpposite worse

   adverb

   • 1. more excellently or effectively: "Johnny could do better if he tried" Similar to a higher standardin a superior/finer way
   • ▪ to a greater degree; more: "I liked it better when we lived in the country" Similar moreto a greater degree
   • ▪ more suitably, appropriately, or usefully: "the money could be better spent on more urgent cases" Similar more wiselymore sensiblymore suitablymore fittinglymore advantageously

   noun

   • 1. the better one; that which is better: "the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two"
   • 2. one's superiors in social class or ability: dated, humorous "I'm not one to speak ill of my betters"

   verb

   • 1. improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement): "bettering his previous time by ten minutes" Similar surpassimprove onbeatexceedexceltopcaptrumpeclipseoutstripoutdooutmatchgo one better thaninformal:best
   • ▪ make (something) better; improve: "his ideas for bettering the working conditions" Similar improvemake betterameliorateraiseadvancefurtherliftupgradeenhancereformrectifyrare:meliorateOpposite worsen
   • ▪ achieve a better social position or status: "the residents are mostly welfare mothers who have bettered themselves"
   • ▪ overcome or defeat (someone): "she bettered him at archery"

   Word Origin Old Englishbetera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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