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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:

"Once that's all done, Gazans can get to rebuilding again: whether it's housing, or better sanitation, or other things," Eisenberg said.

From BBC Sep. 23, 2026

“Serving in the Army has made me better in every facet of my life — a better husband, father, professional,” Spatola said.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 23, 2026

They published their findings in the peer-reviewed Journal of Banking and Finance, offering an important look behind the scenes at our modern so-called attention economy, which could better be described as the “sucker economy.”

From MarketWatch Sep. 23, 2026

Relationships that Canada is developing worldwide “make us stronger, and make us a better partner for the United States,” Carney said.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 23, 2026

She’s doing so much better, in fact, that Dr. Johansen allows members of the public—Joey’s friends, mostly—to attend her commencement.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Now, 12 years and many political lifetimes later, they read as quaint and out-of-touch, like a grandfather telling his grandson to never contradict his betters.

From Salon Aug. 20, 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

Billions are riding on such sports event contracts, and it isn’t just the wagers of individual betters.

From Barron's Nov. 6, 2025

An anonymous message from Ambrose telling me to mind my betters.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

During the 2022-23 La Liga season he produced 0.56 non-penalty xG plus xA per 90, a rate bettered by only seven players with at least 1,500 minutes, all representing Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

From BBC Aug. 28, 2026

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

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

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

The Cleveland Brown's Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record when he claimed his 23rd of the campaign on Sunday - bettering the previous best of 22.5 first set by Michael Strahan in 2001.

From BBC Jan. 5, 2026

Stewart says California has set "a powerful example" by bettering the quality and sustainability of its school lunch, "showing what's possible nationwide."

From Salon Oct. 16, 2024

“But an exceptionally clever student could take a book outside, thus bettering himself without fear of lessening his much-loved faculty of sight.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss




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