better
verb/ˈbetə(r)/
/ˈbetər/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they better | /ˈbetə(r)/ /ˈbetər/ |
| he / she / it betters | /ˈbetəz/ /ˈbetərz/ |
| past simple bettered | /ˈbetəd/ /ˈbetərd/ |
| past participle bettered | /ˈbetəd/ /ˈbetərd/ |
| -ing form bettering | /ˈbetərɪŋ/ /ˈbetərɪŋ/ |
- [often passive] better something to be better or do something better than somebody/something else
- The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.
- Their success that season could not be bettered.
- better yourself to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc.
- Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.
Word OriginOld English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
Check pronunciation:
better