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单词 better
释义

better

adjective
 
/ˈbetə(r)/
/ˈbetər/
comparative of goodIdioms
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  1.  
     of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as something else
    • We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.
    • Her work is getting better and better.
    • He is in a much better mood than usual.
    • The meal couldn't have been better.
    • There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.
    • If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all).
    Extra Examples
    • I might not be a brilliant cook, but that meal's a darn sight better than anything you could do.
    • I think he's a hundred times better as a teacher than Mr White.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • considerably
    • even
    • far
    • …
    phrases
    • no better
    • nothing better than
    See full entry
  2.  
     more suitable or appropriate
    • Can you think of a better word than ‘nice’?
    • It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems.
    • You'd be better going by bus.
    Extra Examples
    • I thought it better to tackle him outside of business hours.
    • We must make our inner cities better to live and work in.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • considerably
    • even
    • far
    • …
    phrases
    • no better
    • nothing better than
    See full entry
  3.  
     more able; showing more skill
    • She's far better at science than her brother.
  4.  
     less ill or unhappy
    • She's a lot better today.
    • His leg was getting better.
    • You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep.
    Topics Illnessa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • a lot
    • much
    • a good deal
    • …
    See full entry
  5.  
     fully recovered after an illness; in good health again
    • Don't go back to work until you are better.
    see also well
    Extra Examples
    • Don't worry. The doctor will soon make you better.
    • I hope you get better soon.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • a lot
    • much
    • a good deal
    • …
    See full entry
    6. Word OriginOld English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
Idioms Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example better luck next time is at luck. 
the best/better part of something
  1. most of something, especially a period of time; more than half of something
    • He drank the best part of a bottle of Scotch waiting for her to get home.
    • The journey took her the better part of an hour.
the bigger, smaller, faster, slower, etc. the better
  1. used to say that something should be as big, small, etc. as possible
    • I love giving parties, the bigger the better.
discretion is the better part of valour
  1. (saying) you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risksTopics Dangerc2
little/no better (than somebody/something)
  1. almost or just the same as; almost or just as bad as
    • The path was no better than a sheep track.
    • Charles VII was a bad king and Charles VIII was no better.
prevention is better than cure (British English)
(US English an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure)
  1. (saying) it is better to stop something bad from happening rather than try to deal with the problems after it has happened
    • Prevention is better than cure, so start looking after your heart now.
    • Prevention is better than cure, so start taking care of yourself.
that’s (much) better
  1. used to give support to somebody who has been upset and is trying to become calmer
    • Dry your eyes now. That's better.
  2. used to praise somebody who has made an effort to improve
    • That's much better—you played the right notes this time.
two heads are better than one
  1. (saying) used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working aloneTopics Successc2

better

adverb
 
/ˈbetə(r)/
/ˈbetər/
comparative of wellIdioms
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  1.  
     in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly
    • She sings much better than I do.
    • Sound travels better in water than in air.
    • People are better educated now.
  2.  
     more; to a greater degree
    • You'll like her when you know her better.
    • A cup of tea? There's nothing I'd like better!
    • Fit people are better able to cope with stress.
    • Researchers are hoping to better understand the role of this protein in human disease.
  3.  
     used to suggest that something would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do
    • The money could be better spent on more urgent cases.
    • Some things are better left unsaid.
    • You'd do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else.
    Topics Suggestions and adviceb1
    4. Word OriginOld English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
Idioms Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns, adjectives and verbs in the idioms, for example better the devil you know is at devil. 
be better off
  1. to have more money
    • Families will be better off under the new law.
    • Her promotion means she's $100 a week better off.
    opposite be worse off (than somebody/something)
be better off (doing something)
  1. used to say that somebody is/would be happier or more satisfied because they are/if they were in a particular position or doing a particular thing
    • She's better off without him.
    • The weather was so bad we'd have been better off staying at home.
better yet
  1. used to say that while one thing is good, another thing is even better
    • You can see and, better yet, hear the effects of these changes on their website.
    • I wanted to make my parents proud by becoming a lawyer or, better yet, a doctor.
had better/best (do something)
 
  1. used to tell somebody what you think they should do
    • You'd better go to the doctor about your cough.
    • We'd better leave now or we'll miss the bus.
    • You'd better not do that again.
    • ‘I'll give you back the money tomorrow.’ ‘You'd better!’ (= as a threat)
    • If you think it is going to be easy, you'd best think again.
    Grammar Point should / ought / had bettershould / ought / had better
    • Should and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to do, but should is much more common:
      • You should take the baby to the doctor’s.
      • I ought to give up smoking.
      In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to:
      • Should we call the doctor?
    • Had better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening now:
      • We’d better hurry or we’ll miss the train.
    • You form the past by using should have or ought to have:
      • She should have asked for some help.
      • You ought to have been more careful.
    • The forms should not or shouldn’t (and ought not to or oughtn’t to, which are rare in North American English and formal in British English) are used to say that something is a bad idea or the wrong thing to do:
      • You shouldn’t drive so fast.
    • The forms should not have or shouldn’t have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or oughtn’t to have are used to talk about the past:
      • I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.

better

noun
 
/ˈbetə(r)/
/ˈbetər/
Idioms
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  1.  
     [singular, uncountable] something that is better
    • the better of the two books
    • I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better).
  2. your betters
     [plural] (old-fashioned) people who are more intelligent or more important than you
    3. Word OriginOld English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
Idioms
a change for the better/worse
  1. a person, thing, situation, etc. that is better/worse than the previous or present one
    • Voters see the new leader as a change for the better.
    • I reckon we've all made a big change for the better.
    • His family had detected a change for the worse in his behaviour.
your elders and betters
  1. people who are older and wiser than you and whom you should respect
for better or (for) worse
  1. used to say that something cannot be changed, whether the result is good or bad
get the better of somebody/something
  1. to defeat somebody/something or gain an advantage
    • No one can get the better of her in an argument.
    • She always gets the better of an argument.
    • His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn't intend to ask questions, but he wanted to know so badly that he did).
so much the better/worse
  1. used to say that something is even better/worse
    • We don't actually need it on Tuesday, but if it arrives by then, so much the better.
    • If hurricanes become more powerful, as current research suggests, so much the worse.
think (the) better of somebody
  1. to have a higher opinion of somebody
    • She has behaved appallingly—I must say I thought better of her.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2

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/
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  1. [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.
  2. 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.
    3. Word OriginOld English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
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更新时间：2024/12/22 22:30:25