The word "better" serves as the comparative form of "good" and "well." Its uses include indicating a more advanced degree or quality (adverb), signifying improvement or a higher standard (adjective), expressing advice ("had better"), or meaning to overcome something ("get the better of"). Additionally, "better" can be a noun for a superior person/thing or a verb meaning to surpass or improve.
The word "better" is the comparative form of "good" and "well." It can be used as an adverb to mean "more" or more extensively. As an adjective, it signifies an improved state, like getting better after an illness. It's also used in phrases like "had better" (advising to do something) and "get the better of" (to overcome or defeat). The word can also function as a noun, referring to someone or something of a higher standard or rank, or as a verb meaning to surpass or improve one's situation.
[ADV-COMPAR 副词比较级形式]更；更大程度上 If you like one thing better than another, you like it more.
[ADV after v]
I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught...
你的解释比我以前学过的更让我喜欢。
I'd like nothing better than to join you girls...
我最喜欢和你们女孩子在一起了。
They liked it better when it rained.
他们更喜欢雨天。
4
[ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]（病情、伤势）好转的，减轻的 If you are better after an illness or injury, you have recovered from it. If you feel better, you no longer feel so ill.
[v-link ADJ]
He is much better now, he's fine...
他现在好多了，身体状况不错。
The doctors were saying there wasn't much hope of me getting better.
医生们说我好转的希望不大。
5
[PHR-MODAL 情态动词短语]（用于建议、警告、威胁、发表意见等）最好 You use had better or 'd better when you are advising, warning, or threatening someone, or expressing an opinion about what should happen.
It's half past two. I think we had better go home...
现在两点半了。我想我们最好还是回家吧。
You'd better run if you're going to get your ticket...
想买到票的话，你最好跑几步。
He'd better not try to fool me.
他最好不要愚弄我。
In spoken English, people sometimes use better without 'had' or 'be' before it. It has the same meaning.（在英语口语中，有时在表达此意时会省略 better 前面的 had 或 be。）
Better not say too much aloud.
最好不要大声说太多话。
6
[PRON 代词]更大成就；更好行为；更好待遇 If you say that you expect or deserve better, you mean that you expect or deserve a higher standard of achievement, behaviour, or treatment from people than they have shown you.
We expect better of you in the future...
我们希望将来你有更大的成就。
Our long-suffering mining communities deserve better than this.
我们长期受苦受难的采矿群体应该得到比这更好的待遇。
7
[N-PLURAL 复数名词]上司；上级 Your betters are people who have a higher status or rank than you do.
[poss N]
[HUMOROUS 幽默]
[OLD-FASHIONED 过时]
Sit down and be quiet in front of your elders and betters.
在长辈和上级面前要老老实实地坐着。
8
[VERB 动词]超越；胜过；超出 If someone betters a high achievement or standard, they achieve something higher.
[V n]
He recorded a time of 4 minutes 23, bettering the old record of 4-24...
他用时4分23秒，刷新了4分24秒的原纪录。
As an account of adolescence it could hardly be bettered.
作为描写青春期的书，它已几臻完美。
9
[VERB 动词]提高；改善 If you better your situation, you improve your social status or the quality of your life. If you better yourself, you improve your social status.
[V n]
[V pron-refl]
He had dedicated his life to bettering the lot of the oppressed people of South Africa...
他毕生致力于改变南非受压迫人民的命运。
Our parents chose to come here with the hope of bettering themselves.
我们的父母选择来到这里，希望能够改善自己的生活。
10
（用于构成以 good 和 well 开头的复合形容词的比较级，如 well-off 的比较级为 better-off）Better is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with 'good' and 'well.' For example, the comparative of 'well-off' is 'better-off.'
11
[PHRASE 短语]（用于建议）最好，更好 You can say that someone is better doing one thing than another, or it is better doing one thing than another, to advise someone about what they should do.
[V inflects]
You are better eating just a small snack than hurrying a main meal...
你最好简单吃点快餐，不要着急着慌地吃正餐。
Wouldn't it be better putting a time-limit on the task?...
是不是给这项任务规定一个时限比较好？
Subjects like this are better left alone.
像这类题材最好别碰。
12
[PHRASE 短语]好转；变好 If something changes for the better, it improves.
[PHR after v]
Dreams of changing the world for the better.
让世界变得更美好的梦想
13
[PHRASE 短语]（嫉妒、好奇心、愤怒等感情）使不能自制 If a feeling such as jealousy, curiosity, or anger gets the better of you, it becomes too strong for you to hide or control.
[V inflects]
She didn't allow her emotions to get the better of her.
她没有感情用事。
14
[PHRASE 短语]（在比赛、打斗或争论中）战胜，打败 If you get the better of someone, you defeat them in a contest, fight, or argument.
[V inflects]
He is used to tough defenders, and he usually gets the better of them.
他习惯了彪悍的后卫，通常都能战而胜之。
15
[PHRASE 短语]（因阅历丰富）不至于… If someone knows better than to do something, they are old enough or experienced enough to know it is the wrong thing to do.
[V inflects]
She knew better than to argue with Adeline...
她不至于和阿德琳发生争执。
It's bad enough to have anyone joke about such a serious matter but a member of the police force should know better.
拿这么严肃的事情开玩笑已经够糟的了，身为一名警察更不应该这样做。
16
[PHRASE 短语]比…更了解（或更渊博、更有经验） If you know better than someone, you have more information, knowledge, or experience than them.
[V inflects]
He thought he knew better than I did, though he was much less experienced...
虽然他经验远没有我丰富，但他认为他比我懂行。
My sister still claims she cheated on us at cards, but I know better.
我妹妹仍然说她和我们玩牌的时候捣了鬼，其实我心知肚明。
17
[PHRASE 短语]（用于建议）不如，最好 If you say that someone would be better off doing something, you are advising them to do it or expressing the opinion that it would benefit them to do it.
[PHR -ing/prep/adv]
If you've got bags you're better off taking a taxi...
你要是大包小包的，不如打的算了。
Their stance seems to be that a baby or child is better off in its country of birth.
他们似乎认为婴儿或者小孩还是呆在自己出生的国家为好。
18
[PHRASE 短语]胜过；超过 If you go one better, you do something better than it has been done before or obtain something better than someone else has.
[V inflects]
Now General Electric have gone one better than nature and made a diamond purer than the best quality natural diamonds.
现在通用电气公司已经制造出了巧夺天工的钻石，其纯度比最好的天然钻石还要高。
19
[CONVENTION 惯用语]（表示赞成、表扬或鼓励）很好，这就对了 You say 'That's better' in order to express your approval of what someone has said or done, or to praise or encourage them.
'I came to ask your advice — no, to ask for your help.' — 'That's better. And how can I help you?'
“我来征求你们的意见——不对，请求你们帮助。”——“这还差不多。我们怎么帮助你？”
20
[PHRASE 短语]这样更好；那更好 You can say 'so much the better' or 'all the better' to indicate that it is desirable that a particular thing is used, done, or available.
Use strong white flour, and if you can get hold of durum wheat flour, then so much the better...
使用高筋白面粉，如果你能弄到硬粒小麦面粉，那就更好了。
If there's good skiing, breathtaking scenery and you don't need to catch a plane, all the better!
如果有好的滑雪场、令人叹为观止的美景，又不用赶飞机，那就再好不过了。
21
[PHRASE 短语]越…越好 You can use expressions like 'The bigger the better' or 'The sooner the better' to say that you would prefer it if something is big or happens soon.
The Irish love a party, the bigger the better...
爱尔兰人喜欢聚会，规模越大越好。
The fewer things in the room the better.
房间里的东西越少越好。
22
[PHRASE 短语]为了更好地…；以便更有效地… If you do something the better to do something else, you do the first thing in order to be able to do the second thing more effectively.
[PHR to-inf]
[mainly WRITTEN 主笔语]
She came on every ride herself, the better to instruct her eager pupils.
每一个骑乘项目她都要亲自试一试，以便更好地指导她那些跃跃欲试的小学生。
23
[PHRASE 短语]重新考虑后决定不做 If you intend to do something and then think better of it, you decide not to do it because you realize it would not be sensible.
[V inflects]
Alberg opened his mouth, as if to protest. But he thought better of it.
阿尔伯格张了张嘴，似乎想要申辩，但想想又放弃了。
24
[PHRASE 短语]不论好坏；不管结果怎样 If you say that something has happened or been done for better or worse, you mean that you are not sure whether the consequences will be good or bad, but they will have to be accepted because the action cannot be changed.
[PHR after v]
I married you for better or worse, knowing all about these problems.
这些问题我都知道，不管怎样我还是嫁给了你。
25
better the devil you know→see:
devil
； discretion is the better part of valour→see:
discretion
； your better half→see:
half
； against your better judgment→see:
judgment
； to be better than nothing→see:
nothing
； the better part→see:
part
；
Oxford
bet·ter★/ˈbetə(r); NAmEˈbetər/
adjective
,
adverb
,
noun
,
verb
betterbettersbetteredbetteringadjective★( comparative of good*good 的比较级 ) 1★of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as sth else 较好的；更好的◆We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.我们希望明天天气转好。◆Her work is getting better and better.她的工作干得越来越好了。◆He is in a much better mood than usual.他的情绪比平时好多了。◆The meal couldn't have been better.这顿饭再好吃不过了。◆There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.没有什么比好好地泡个热水澡更舒服的了。◆If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing(= better than taking no exercise at all).即便是一个星期锻炼一次，也比完全不锻炼好。2★more able or skilled 能力更强的；更熟练的◆She's far better at science than her brother.她在理科方面比她的弟弟强得多。3★more suitable or appropriate 更合适的；更恰当的◆Can you think of a better word than ‘nice’?你能找到一个比 nice 更合适的字眼吗？◆It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems.他把自己的问题同父母谈谈会比较好。◆You'd be bettergoing by bus. 你坐公共汽车去会更好些。4★less ill/sick or unhappy （病势）好转的，见轻的；舒畅些的◆She's a lot better today.她今天好多了。◆His leg was getting better.他的腿在渐渐恢复。◆You'll feel all the better fora good night's sleep. 你晚上睡个好觉就会感觉好得多。5fully recovered after an illness; in good health again 痊愈；恢复健康◆Don't go back to work until you are better.身体康复之前，不要回去工作。☞see also
well
adj.IDIOMSMost idioms containing betterare at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example better luck next timeis at luck.大多数含 better 的习语，都可在该等习语中的名词及动词相关词条找到，如 better luck next time 在词条 luck 下。little/no better thanalmost or just the same as; almost or just as bad as 同…（几乎）一样；和…（几乎）一样坏◆The path was no better than a sheep track.那条小路简直就像是给羊群踏出来的。that's (much) ˈbetter1used to give support to sb who has been upset and is trying to become calmer （安慰他人时说）很好，这就对了◆Dry your eyes now. That's better.把眼泪擦干。这就对了。2used to praise sb who has made an effort to improve （称赞努力加以改进的人）很好◆That's much better—you played the right notes this time.很好，你这次把音弹准了。the ˌbigger, ˌsmaller, ˌfaster, ˌslower, etc. the ˈbetterused to say that sth should be as big, small, etc. as possible 越大（或小、快、慢等）越好◆As far as the hard disk is concerned, the bigger the better.就硬盘而言，容量越大越好。☞more at
discretion
,
head
n.,
part
n.,
prevention
adverb★( comparative of well*well 的比较级 ) 1★in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly 更好；更愉快；不那么差◆She sings much better than I do.她的歌唱得比我好得多。◆Sound travels better in water than in air.声音在水中比在空气中传播得快。◆People are better educated now.现在人们教育程度更高了。2★more; to a greater degree 更；较大程度地◆You'll like her when you know her better.你对她了解得多一点就会喜欢她。◆A cup of tea? There's nothing I'd like better!一杯茶吗？那最好不过了！◆Fit people are better able to cope with stress.健康的人较能应付压力。3used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do 更妥；更恰当◆The money could be better spent on more urgent cases.这笔钱用于较紧迫的事情也许会好些。◆Some things are better left unsaid.有些事还是不提为好。◆You'd do better totell her everything before she finds out from someone else. 你把一切都告诉她才是上策，免得她从别人口中听到。IDIOMS★Most idioms containing betterare at the entries for the nouns, adjectives and verbs in the idioms, for example better the devil you knowis at devil.大多数含 better 的习语，都可在该等习语中的名词、形容词及动词相关词条找到，如 better the devil you know 在词条 devil 下。be better ˈoffto have more money 有较多钱；比较宽裕◆Families will be better off under the new law.新法律会使家庭经济宽裕一些。◆Her promotion means she's $100 a week better off.她的晋升意味着她每星期多挣 100 元。OPPbe worse offbe better off (doing sth)used to say that sb is/would be happier or more satisfied if they were in a particular position or did a particular thing （在某情况下或因做某事）更幸福，更满意◆She's better off without him.没有他，她活得更幸福。◆The weather was so bad we'd have been better off staying at home.天气非常恶劣，我们还不如待在家里舒服。★had better/best (do sth)used to tell sb what you think they should do （告诉别人应该做的事）应该，最好◆You'd better go to the doctor about your cough.你最好去找医生看看你的咳嗽。◆We'd better leave now or we'll miss the bus.我们最好现在就走，不然就赶不上公共汽车了。◆You'd better not do that again.你最好别再这样做了。◆‘I'll give you back the money tomorrow.’ ‘You'd better!’ (= as a threat)“我明天会还你钱。”“那样最好！”☞note at
should
noun★1★[singular , uncountable ]something that is better 更好的事物；较好者◆the better of the two books两本书中较好的一本◆I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better).我本以为他会表现得好一些。2your betters[plural ]( old-fashioned) people who are more intelligent or more important than you 更有才智者；更重要的人IDIOMSfor ˌbetter or (for) ˈworseused to say that sth cannot be changed, whether the result is good or bad 不论好坏；不管是福是祸；不管怎样get the better of sb/sthto defeat sb/sth or gain an advantage 挫败…；占上风◆No one can get the better of her in an argument.辩论起来没人能辩过她。◆She always gets the better of an argument.她在争辩中总是占上风。◆His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn't intend to ask questions, but he wanted to know so badly that he did).好奇心使得他不禁要问。so much the ˈbetter/ˈworseused to say that sth is even better/worse 那就更好了╱更糟了◆We don't actually need it on Tuesday, but if it arrives by then, so much the better.实际上我们星期二并不需要它，但如果那时能到就更好。☞more at
change
n.,
elder
n.,
think
v.verb1[often passive ]bettersth to be better or do sth better than sb/sth else 胜过；超过◆The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.他后来没出过什么作品能真正比得上他的早期作品。2betteryourself to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc. （通过教育、更好的工作等）改进社会地位，上进◆Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.维多利亚时代成千上万名工人加入了各种教育协会，以求上进。bet·ter/ˈbetə(r); NAmEˈbetər/
LDC
better1 adjective
better2 adverb
better3 noun
better4 verb
betterbet‧ter1 /ˈbetə $ -ər/ ●●●S1W1 adjective
Word Origin
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
1[comparative of good] more useful, interesting, satisfactory, effective, suitable etcOPP worse: Your stereo is better than mine. There must be a better way to do this. a better-quality carmuch/a lot/far better We now have a much better understanding of the disease.better still/even better It was even better than last year. ► Better is a comparative form. Don’t say ‘more better’.2[comparative of well]a)more healthy or less ill or painful than beforeOPP worse: She is a little better today, the doctor says. I’m feeling much better, thank you.b)completely well again after an illness: When you’re better we can see about planning a trip. I hope he gets better (=recovers from an illness) soon.► see thesaurus at
healthy
3it is better/it would be better used to give your opinion or make a suggestion about what you think should be done or happenit is better to do something It’s much better to get a proper written agreement.better if It might be better if you stayed here.4get better to improve: Her English isn’t really getting any better. Things can only get better.5no bettera)not better than something else or something before: The following day the weather was no better.b)used to say that something is the bestthere is no better way/example/place etc There’s no better way of exploring the region.6nothing bettera)used to say that you really like something or think that something is very goodlike/love/enjoy nothing better (than) She likes nothing better than a nice long walk along the beach. There’s nothing better than beating someone who’s playing well.b)used to say that a thing or situation is not very good, but is the only thing possible or availablehave nothing better to do Have you got nothing better to do than sit there playing that silly game? I only picked it up because there was nothing better to read.7that’s better spoken used to say that something has improved, that you are happier or more comfortable, or to encourage someone: Ah, that’s better. I needed to sit down. ‘Can you turn it down?’ ‘Is that better?’8 better late than never spoken used to say that it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive or happen at all → your better half/other half
at half2(8)
, → the best/better part of something
at part1(9)
, → against your better judgment
at judgment(1)
, → somebody’s better nature
at nature(2)
, → better luck next time
at luck1(14)
, → better the devil you know
at devil(11)
, → have seen better days
at see1(29)
THESAURUSbetter the comparative of good: · She wants a better job.· The sales figures were far better than expected.· Lucy’s better at French than I am.superior better, especially in quality: · German cars are far superior.· a superior product· He thinks men are superior to women.preferable formal more suitable or useful – used when saying which one you prefer: · Cash would be preferable.· Anything would be preferable to the system we have now.be an improvement on something to be better than something that existed before: · The engine is a huge improvement on previous diesel engines.have the edge to be slightly better than another person or thing – used especially when saying which one will win in a game or competition: · Federer is likely to have the edge in Sunday’s game.· For me, this film has the edge over the others.be miles ahead (of somebody/something) (also be streets ahead (of somebody/something) British English) informal to be very much better than someone or something that you are competing against: · The company is streets ahead of its rivals.there’s no comparison spoken used to emphasize that one person or thing is clearly much better than someone or something else: · There’s no comparison between the two teams.· ‘Which apartment do you prefer?’ ‘Well, there’s no comparison. The first one we saw is bigger, quieter, and has much nicer furniture.’
better1 adjective
better2 adverb
better3 noun
better4 verb
betterbetter2 ●●●S1W1 adverb [comparative of well]
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
1to a higher standard or qualityOPP worse: He can speak French a lot better than I can. Your bike will run better if you oil it. → fare better
at fare2
2to a higher degreeSYN more: She knows this town better than you do. I think I like the red one better. Potter is better known for his TV work.3had bettera)used to give advice about what someone should do, or to say what you should do or need to do: I’d better go and get ready. I think you’d better ask Jo first. You had better not tell Oliver (=it is not a good idea).b)used to threaten someone: You’d better keep your mouth shut about this. ► In speech, people usually shorten had to ’d, and may not pronounce it at all. But do not leave out had or ’d in writing: You’d better (NOT You better) come here!4do better to perform better or reach a higher standard: We did better than all the other schools.5the sooner the better/the bigger the better etc used to emphasize that you would prefer something to happen as soon as possible, want something to be as big as possible etc: School finishes at the end of the week, and the sooner the better as far as I’m concerned. The younger you start learning a language, the better you’ll speak it.6go one better (than somebody) informal to do something more successfully than someone else: The following year Lewis went one better by winning the gold medal. Of course, they had to go one better and have the whole garden redesigned. →
better off
better1 adjective
better2 adverb
better3 noun
better4 verb
betterbetter3 ●●○ noun
Examples
Thesaurus
Collocations
Phrases
1the better the one that is higher in quality, more suitable etc when you are comparing two similar people or things: It’s hard to decide which one’s the better.2get the better of somebodya)if your feelings or wishes get the better of you, they make you behave in a way you would not normally behave: My curiosity finally got the better of me and I opened the letter. I think her nerves got the better of her.b)to defeat someone or deal successfully with a problem3for the better in a way that improves the situation: a definite change for the better The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve).4so much the better used to say that something would be even better or bring even more advantages: If they can do them both at the same time, then so much the better.5be all the better for something to be improved by a particular action, change etc: I think it’s all the better for that extra ten minutes’ cooking.6for better or (for) worse used to say that something must be accepted, whether it is good or bad, because it cannot be changed: Work is, for better or worse, becoming more flexible nowadays.7your betters old-fashioned people who are more important than you or deserve more respect →
worse3
, → elders and betters
at elder2(2)
better1 adjective
better2 adverb
better3 noun
better4 verb
betterbetter4 verb [transitive]
Verb Table
Examples
Collocations
Phrases
1to be higher in quality, amount etc than someone or something else: His total of five gold medals is unlikely to be bettered.2better yourself to improve your position in society by getting a better education or earning more money3formal to improve something: bettering the lot of the working classes
WDF
better
[ˈbetə(r)]bettered, bettering, betters原型:better 是 good 的比较级