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Definitions

better

[bet-er] / ˈbɛt ər /


ADJECTIVE
larger
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK






Usage

What are other ways to say improve? To better is to improve conditions which, though not bad, are unsatisfying: to better an attempt, oneself (as by gaining a higher salary). Improve usually implies remedying a lack or a felt need: to improve a process, oneself (as by gaining more knowledge). The more formal verb ameliorate implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions: to ameliorate working conditions.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The vast majority of awards were doled out offstage during an evening far better known for its performances and stage antics than its prizes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

“There’s always the little stuff I can be better at,” he said after putting up 380 all-purpose yards against Etiwanda in a 35-28 victory that went down to the wire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

To see if a higher front helps you sleep better, you can try McCarthy's towel trick by rolling it and placing it underneath your pillow.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

A well-designed system could help us understand better what we don’t know as well as what we do.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

I knew it would be, hands down, better than anything Jonah would give him.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

That’s a sign that betters don’t see the feud with the U.S. as slowing an IPO.

From Barron's ● Jun. 13, 2026

His betters resented Duchamp’s attempt at depicting movement and judged the title vulgar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

This week: Polymarket teamed up with the Golden Globes, displaying a live ticker for betters on the broadcast.

From Slate ● Jan. 17, 2026

It only betters you as an artist and as a person.

From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2024

"Small boys should learn that it is a big mistake to try playing tricks on their betters to gain attention."

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

That performance, bettered only by leading pair Adrianna Sulek-Schubert of Poland and Ireland's Kate O'Connor, followed a time of 14 seconds flat in the 100m hurdles which ranked 15th overall.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Among NL pitchers with at least 70 innings, his ERA is bettered only by Misiorowski.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Against Morocco, he was only bettered by an extra 369 metres from Lewis Ferguson.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

"I think there was an attempt to be smarter and involve the actual game, I think that was a tipping point, neither of those songs have been bettered since," he added.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

She was supposed to want to meet men, to keep her eyes open; she was supposed to see The General as an option that could be bettered.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

She said Chinese biotechs have “gotten very good with pretty-well-known targets—in bettering them, in really getting more precise.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

I think we still have a long way to go in terms of bettering ourselves, but we’ve come a long way from the beginning.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

Abdul Hammed currently works at a warehouse, but the 33-year-old has come to the apprenticeship fair in the hope of bettering himself.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026

Well, then you know how truly committed they were to bettering L.A. in the first place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

It is her only hope of bettering her lot and seeing her children again.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario




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