better

better
better adj Better, superior, preferable mean more worthy or more pleasing than another or others.
Better, which often serves as the comparative of good, in this sense implies a quality or character in a person or thing that surpasses or exceeds that in the one or ones called good
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the theme is good, but I think you can write a better one

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{

he proposed a better scheme than any that had been discussed

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Often, however, better is used in comparison or contrast with something that can be described as bad
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give him time to show his better nature

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{

looking upon myself as no better than a dead man— Steele

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or with something that may be good, bad, or indifferent yet from the point of view of the speaker or writer is to be rejected as totally undesirable in comparison
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it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea— Mk 9:42

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{

better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven— Milton

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Superior in all its uses retains some feeling of its basic meaning, higher in physical position, which is now largely restricted to technical contexts in which it implies opposition to what is below (inferior)-, thus, the upper jaw or maxilla is sometimes distinguished as the superior maxilla from the lower jaw or mandible which is then designated the inferior maxilla. Superior often implies a scale (as of values or ranks) and emphasizes height (as of status, quality, or worth); thus, if a student is doing good work one might suggest that he could do better (as compared with his previous accomplishment) if he tried, and might hope that his added efforts would produce a truly superior result (as compared either with any relevant accomplishment or with a scale of possible accomplishments); one might like an author's new book better than his last but rate it superior to anything he had previously written
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a sergeant is superior to a corporal

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{

certain rights are superior to constitutions and to statute laws— Lippincott

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the superior durability of parchment— Coulton

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superior wisdom derived from experience— Trewartha

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Preferable implies a choice between two things or one thing and all others usually on the ground that the thing chosen is better by comparison or is superior in quality, status, or kind. But its chief emphasis is upon relative desirability, and the other implications may be greatly obscured or lost upon occasion
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he finds a walk in the country preferable to reading a book

}
Analogous words: *choice, delicate, dainty: selected, culled, picked, preferred (see CHOOSE)
better vb *improve, ameliorate, help
Analogous words: *correct, amend, reform, rectify, remedy, redress: enhance (see INTENSIFY)
Antonyms: worsen
Contrasted words: impair, mar, harm, damage, *injure: *debase, vitiate, corrupt

New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.

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  • Better — Bet ter, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — is the comparative form of the adjective good .Better may also refer to: * to better as a verb means that someone or something has undergone betterment *better, an alternate spelling of bettor, as a noun, is someone who bets (gambles) *Better, a… …   Wikipedia

  • better — better1 [bet′ər] adj. [ME bettere, betere < OE betera: see BEST] 1. compar. of GOOD 2. of a more excellent sort; surpassing another or others 3. more suitable, more desirable, more favorable, more profitable, etc. 4. being more than half;… …   English World dictionary

  • Better — Bet ter, adv.; compar. of {Well}. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. [1913 Webster] I could have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — 1. had better. This common idiom is used in the form We had better go home or We d better go home; the negative form is We d better not go home and the interrogative Hadn t we better go home?. Informally (but not in more formal contexts), the… …   Modern English usage

  • Better — Bet ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bettered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bettering}.] [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See {Better}, a.] 1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. [1913 Webster] Love betters what is best.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — [adj1] excelling, more excellent bigger, choice, exceeding, exceptional, finer, fitter, greater, higher quality, improved, larger, more appropriate, more desirable, more fitting, more select, more suitable, more useful, more valuable, preferable …   New thesaurus

  • Better — Bet ter, n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. [1913 Webster] 2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; usually in the plural. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Better es una canción de la banda de hard rock estadounidense Guns N Roses, que aparece en su sexto disco de estudio Chinese Democracy , album del cuál también es el segundo sencillo que se ha lanzado hasta el… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Better — Bet ter, v. i. To become better; to improve. Carlyle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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