bet•ter1/ˈbɛtɚ/USA pronunciationadj.comparative form of good.
of higher or superior quality or excellence: We got a better view of the city from the top of the Empire State Building.
morally superior:Those politicians are no better than thieves.
of superior suitability; preferable:There could not be a better time for action.[it + be + ~ + verb-ing]It's better having short lines with more bank tellers.[it + be + ~ + to + verb]It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.[it + be + ~ + that clause]It's better that we stop meeting like this.
larger; greater:This homework assignment will take the better part of a day to finish.
improved in health; healthier than before:Well, are you feeling any better today?
adv.,[comparative form of well.]
in a more appropriate manner:Behave better when your grandparents come over.
to a greater degree; more completely: She knows the way better than I do.
v.
to (cause to) improve: [~ + object]She worked hard to better the lot of the needy.[no object]Economic conditions have not bettered.
[~ + object] to improve upon: We have bettered last year's production.
of superior quality or excellence:a better coat; a better speech.
morally superior; more virtuous:They are no better than thieves.
of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable:a better time for action.
larger; greater:the better part of a lifetime.
improved in health; healthier than before.
completely recovered in health.
Idiomsno better than one should be, [Disparaging.]morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
adv.,[compar. of]well[with]best[as superl.]
in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner:to behave better.
to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly:He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
more:I walked better than a mile to town.
Idiomsbetter off:
in better circumstances.
more fortunate; happier:Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
Idiomsgo (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to:The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
Idiomshad better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to:We had better stay indoors today.
Idiomsthink better of:
to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding:I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.
to form a higher opinion of.
v.t.
to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve:to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
to improve upon; surpass; exceed:We have bettered last year's production record.
Games[Cards.]to raise (a previous bid).
Idiomsbetter oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education:He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
n.
that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser:the better of two choices.
Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
Idiomsfor the better, in a way that is an improvement:His health changed for the better.
Idiomsget or have the better of:
to get an advantage over.
to prevail against.
bef. 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser), Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent. to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adverb, adverbial) better; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- "fortunate'' is doubtful. See best
15. amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify. See improve.
morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious:a good man.
satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree:a good teacher; good health.
of high quality; excellent.
right; proper; fit:It is good that you are here. His credentials are good.
well-behaved:a good child.
kind, beneficent, or friendly:to do a good deed.
honorable or worthy; in good standing:a good name.
educated and refined:She has a good background.
financially sound or safe:His credit is good.
genuine; not counterfeit:a good quarter.
sound or valid:good judgment; good reasons.
reliable; dependable; responsible:good advice.
healthful; beneficial:Fresh fruit is good for you.
in excellent condition; healthy:good teeth.
not spoiled or tainted; edible; palatable:The meat was still good after three months in the freezer.
favorable; propitious:good news.
cheerful; optimistic; amiable:in good spirits.
free of distress or pain; comfortable:to feel good after surgery.
agreeable; pleasant:Have a good time.
attractive; handsome:She has a good figure.
(of the complexion) smooth; free from blemish.
close or intimate; warm:She's a good friend of mine.
sufficient or ample:a good supply.
advantageous; satisfactory for the purpose:a good day for fishing.
competent or skillful; clever:a good manager; good at arithmetic.
skillfully or expertly done:a really good job; a good play.
conforming to rules of grammar, usage, etc.; correct:good English.
socially proper:good manners.
remaining available to one:Don't throw good money after bad.
comparatively new or of relatively fine quality:Don't play in the mud in your good clothes.
best or most dressy:He wore his good suit to the office today.
full:a good day's journey away.
fairly large or great:a good amount.
free from precipitation or cloudiness:good weather.
Medicine(of a patient's condition) having stable and normal vital signs, being conscious and comfortable, and having excellent appetite, mobility, etc.
fertile; rich:good soil.
loyal:a good Democrat.
(of a return or service in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) landing within the limits of a court or section of a court.
Sport[Horse Racing.](of the surface of a track) drying after a rain so as to be still slightly sticky:This horse runs best on a good track.
Food(of meat, esp. beef ) noting or pertaining to the specific grade below "choice,'' containing more lean muscle and less edible fat than "prime'' or "choice.''
favorably regarded (used as an epithet for a ship, town, etc.):the good shipSyrena.
Idiomsas good as. See as1 (def. 18).
Idiomsgood for:
certain to repay (money owed) because of integrity, financial stability, etc.
the equivalent in value of:Two thousand stamps are good for one coffeepot.
able to survive or continue functioning for (the length of time or the distance indicated):These tires are good for another 10,000 miles.
valid or in effect for (the length of time indicated):a license good for one year.
(used as an expression of approval):Good for you!
Nauticalgood full, (of a sail or sails) well filled, esp. when sailing close to the wind; clean full; rap full.
Idiomsmake good:
to make recompense for; repay.
to implement an agreement; fulfill.
to be successful.
to substantiate; verify.
to carry out; accomplish; execute:The convicts made good their getaway.
Idiomsno good, without value or merit; worthless; contemptible:The check was no good.
n.
profit or advantage; worth; benefit:What good will that do? We shall work for the common good.
excellence or merit; kindness:to do good.
moral righteousness; virtue:to be a power for good.
Food(esp. in the grading of U.S. beef ) an official grade below that of "choice.''
Businessgoods:
possessions, esp. movable effects or personal property.
articles of trade; wares; merchandise:canned goods.
Informal Termswhat has been promised or is expected:to deliver the goods.
Informal Termsthe genuine article.
Informal Termsevidence of guilt, as stolen articles:to catch someone with the goods.
cloth or textile material:top-quality linen goods.
British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]merchandise sent by land, rather than by water or air.
Idiomscome to no good, to end in failure or as a failure:Her jealous relatives said that she would come to no good.
Idiomsfor good, finally and permanently; forever:to leave the country for good.Also, for good and all.
the good:
the ideal of goodness or morality.
good things or persons collectively.
Idiomsto the good:
generally advantageous:That's all to the good, but what do I get out of it?
richer in profit or gain:When he withdrew from the partnership, he was several thousand dollars to the good.
interj.
(used as an expression of approval or satisfaction):Good! Now we can all go home.
adv.
Informal Termswell.
Informal Terms, Idiomsgood and, very; completely; exceedingly:This soup is good and hot.
bef. 900; Middle English (adjective, adjectival, adverb, adverbial, and noun, nominal); Old English gōd (adjective, adjectival); cognate with Dutch goed, German gut, Old Norse gōthr, Gothic goths
Good is common as an adverb in informal speech, especially after forms of do: He did good on the test. She sees good with her new glasses. This use does not occur in formal speech or edited writing, where the adverb well is used instead:He did well on the test.She sees well with her new glasses.The adjective good is standard after linking verbs like taste, smell, look, feel, be, and seem: Everything tastes good. The biscuits smell good. You're looking good today. When used after look or feel,good may refer to spirits as well as health:I'm feeling pretty good this morning, ready to take on the world.Well is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective used after look, feel, or other linking verbs, it often refers to good health:You're looking well; we missed you while you were in the hospital.See also bad.
well1(wel),USA pronunciationadv., adj.,[compar.]bet•ter,[superl.]best,interj., n. adv.
in a good or satisfactory manner:Business is going well.
thoroughly, carefully, or soundly:to shake well before using; listen well.
in a moral or proper manner:to behave well.
commendably, meritoriously, or excellently:a difficult task well done.
with propriety, justice, or reason:I could not well refuse.
adequately or sufficiently:Think well before you act.
to a considerable extent or degree:a sum well over the amount agreed upon.
with great or intimate knowledge:to know a person well.
certainly; without doubt:I anger easily, as you well know.
with good nature; without rancor:He took the joke well.
as well:
in addition; also; too:She insisted ondirecting the play and on producing it as well.
equally:The town grew as well because of its location as because of its superb climate.
as well as, as much or as truly as; equally as:Joan is witty as well as intelligent.
adj.
in good health; sound in body and mind:Are you well? He is not a well man.
satisfactory, pleasing, or good:All is well with us.
proper, fitting, or gratifying:It is well that you didn't go.
in a satisfactory position; well-off:I am very well as I am.
leave well enough alone, avoid changing something that is satisfactory.
interj.
(used to express surprise, reproof, etc.):Well! There's no need to shout.
(used to introduce a sentence, resume a conversation, etc.):Well, who would have thought he could do it?
n.
well-being; good fortune; success:to wish well to someone.
bef. 900; Middle English, Old English wel(l) (adjective, adjectival and adverb, adverbial); cognate with Dutch wel, German wohl, Old Norse vel, Gothic waila
Mininga hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur.
Geographya spring or natural source of water.
an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.:He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.
a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid:the well of ink in a fountain pen.
Buildingany sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building.
[Naut.]
Nauticala part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other.
Nauticala compartment or enclosure around a ship's pumps to make them easily accessible and protect them from being damaged by the cargo.
a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.
Miningany shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine.
v.i.
to rise, spring, or gush, as water, from the earth or some other source (often fol. by up, out, or forth):Tears welled up in my eyes.
v.t.
to send welling up or forth:a fountain welling its pure water.
adj.
like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well.
bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English well(e), Old English wylle, wella, welle; cognate with German Welle wave; (verb, verbal) Middle English wellen, Old English wellan (cognate with Dutch wellen, Old Norse vella); both noun, nominal and verb, verbal ultimately akin to weallan to boil