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👍 Improved quality ⬆️ To improve 🚀 More effectively 🧑‍💼 Higher-ranking people 🎲 A gambler 🏆 Preferred choice
to better

to better

35 1.8
To improve something
  • verb
  • /ˈbɛtər/
translation icon : mejorar
  • It's like always trying to better my situation.
  • better lives
  • better their lot
  • better their circumstances

Examples

  • And when you know better, you should do better.

  • We'll see if we can better that for you.

    My Favorite Martian (1999)

  • We grow up being asked to better ourselves every day.

    For Your Own Sake (2021)

  • I felt like it would be a challenge but also an opportunity to better my teaching practice.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Now they want a union here that will work to better our conditions.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Several years ago, it was her desire to better the lives of her children.

    Academic text (2011)

  • For many, the focus is on doing better than others rather than bettering their own performance.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Black Bostonians had been quite active in bettering their condition long before their participation in the abolitionist movement.

    Academic text (2002)

  • As head of the Brotherhood, Dave's mandate was to better the conditions for Manitoba's Indians.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • She took a course to better her skills in graphic design.

Synonyms

to improve
vsto better
∞ 1.0

To make something better

also means going beyond a previous level or standard
to break
vsto better
240 3.1

To do better than a previous record

also includes making things more effective rather than only breaking records
to amend
vsto better
119 3.9

To make small changes to a document, for example a law or statement, to correct mistakes

covers improvements beyond texts or formal corrections
to pass
vsto better
107 3.4

To be better than a set standard

also includes improving things themselves rather than only meeting a level
to surpass
vsto better
100 4.6

To be better than another person or thing

also includes making something more effective rather than only going beyond
to outperform
vsto better
30 4.8

Do better than someone or something

also applies to making something more effective rather than only getting superior results
to outdo
vsto better
22 3.8

Be better than someone at something

also covers making things more effective rather than only beating others
to ameliorate
vsto better
11 8.1

To make a bad situation better

also covers surpassing earlier standards rather than easing problems
to meliorate
vsto better
9.8

To become or make something better

also means going beyond a previous level or standard

Antonyms

to deteriorate
146 5.9

To get worse in quality, condition, or value

to worsen
61 3.9

To make a situation or condition less good

Idioms

to seen better days
  • Informal
19 6.9

In poor condition because it is old or has not been cared for

better for it
5 4.8

Having improved after a difficult time

turn for the better
3 3.6

A change that makes a situation better

a damn sight better
  • NSFW
2 8.8

A lot better than someone or something else

better luck next time
  • Informal
1 4.1

A friendly phrase that wishes someone more success next time

better door than a window
  • Informal
9.9

A joking remark to someone who stands in the way and blocks the view

better than sex
  • NSFW
9.7

Extremely pleasurable or satisfying in a way that feels better than usual

a fuck sight better
  • Offensive
9.9

A lot better than something else

an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
7.9

Stopping a problem early is better than fixing it later

no better than one ought to be
9.9

Acting in a way that people think is wrong

the more you know, the better
6.0

More information helps you make better choices

to wrangle a better deal
6.3

To negotiate strongly to get a better price or better terms

Phrasal Verbs

to feel better
685 1.0

Be less sick, sad or tired than before

to get better
573 1.0

To become healthier, more skilled, or more successful

to make (someone) feel better
329 1.5

Help someone feel happier when they are sad or sick

to do better than that
58 3.0

Show a higher level of skill or quality than before

to deserve better
38 3.4

To be worthy of something better than what one has now

to get better at
34 1.8

To become more skilled in an activity by practicing

to get the better of
16 4.1

To take control of someone, something, or a feeling that you cannot stop

to strike for better wages
1 3.8

To stop work together to ask the employer for higher pay

had better
2.0

To tell someone they should do something because not doing it may cause trouble

Compounds

better off
457 3.5

In a richer or more comfortable situation than before

better-looking
73 2.3

More attractive to look at

better half
  • Informal
14 3.3

A person someone is married to or lives with, said in a friendly, joking way

better-known
7 3.8

More widely known than another person or thing

better nature
1 6.6

A kinder, more honest part of a person that makes them treat others well

better visibility
1 3.7

More attention given to something that makes it easier to see or find

better decision-making
1 3.9

Choosing carefully using good information to get better results

How Improved

to perfect
118 3.9
to transform
523 3.4
to better
35 1.8
to improve
∞ 1.0
to enhance
424 4.0
to adjust
317 2.7
tweak
28 3.9

Surface Forms

better infinitive
better past
better past participle
better present participle
better third person singular

Etymology

The verb better comes from the idea of making something 'more good', so to better your life is to improve it or make it more good than before.