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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:

“They need affordable housing and better housing — you just don’t need to do it over 30 feet.”

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 18, 2026

When asked by a defence attorney if Lindsay Clancy had been "interested at all times in trying to get better and see doctors", Susan Clancy answered: "Very much so."

From BBC Aug. 18, 2026

And they say they’re doing better, as Ms. Kennedy acknowledges.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 18, 2026

Provinces have taken US alcohol products off their shelves, he said, and "given better market access to dairy products from the European Union" among other actions, Greer said in July.

From Barron's Aug. 18, 2026

Clare knew, better than anyone, where that was: one of the four realms of the Afterlife.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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

Like my literary betters, I sometimes worry that reading distracts me from writing.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 16, 2026

“Mind you, I’m not one to gossip. You remember that, Ophelia. The lives of your betters are not fodder for your amusement.”

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

It also bettered the British under-20 record, three months before its former holder Dina Asher-Smith won the world title.

From BBC Aug. 17, 2026

Brighton managed 10 clean sheets last season, bettered by only six teams.

From BBC Aug. 14, 2026

Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 60,000 at London Stadium, the five-time global medallist bettered the Moroccan's mark - untouched since 1999, when Kerr was aged one - by nearly half a second.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 30, 2026

These improvements bettered the quality of everything ranging from radios, to television sets, to small electronic calculators, yet the agency hadn’t done a good job of explaining these benefits to the public.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

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

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

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 7, 2025

Since 1 February, Forest have conceded 46 goals in the Premier League, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool bettering them.

From BBC Jan. 13, 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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