Definition of the word better

Pronunciation of vocabulary better

betteradjective

tốt hơn, tốt nhất

/ˈbɛtə/

Definition of the word <b>better</b>

Origin of the word better

The word "better" has its roots in Old English, where it was spelled "betere" or "bebetor". It comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*bathiz", which is also the source of the Modern German word "besser". This Proto-Germanic word is thought to have been derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bhe-" which meant "to swell" or "to grow". In Old English, the word "betere" initially meant "greater" or "larger", but over time it developed the meaning "more advantageous" or "improved". By the 14th century, "better" had emerged as a distinct word with its modern meaning, meaning "more satisfactory or superior". Today, "better" is used to compare two things, indicating that one is superior to the other. For example, "this cake is better than that one" or "I'm going to do better on the test this time".

Vocabulary summary better

typeadjective

meaningcomparative degree of good

exampleto respect one's betters

exampleto better a record

meaningbetter, better, nicer, more beautiful

exampleto get the better of

meaninghealthier, more comfortable, better (sick person...)

exampleyou had better go now

typeadverb

meaningcomparative degree of well

exampleto respect one's betters

exampleto better a record

meaningbetter

exampleto get the better of

meaningso, better

exampleyou had better go now

Example of vocabulary betternamespace

of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as something else

có tiêu chuẩn cao hơn hoặc chất lượng kém hơn; không tệ như cái gì khác

  • We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.

    Chúng tôi hy vọng thời tiết tốt hơn vào ngày mai.

  • Her work is getting better and better.

    Công việc của cô ngày càng tốt hơn.

  • He is in a much better mood than usual.

    Anh ấy đang có tâm trạng tốt hơn bình thường rất nhiều.

  • The meal couldn't have been better.

    Bữa ăn không thể tuyệt vời hơn.

  • There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.

    Không có gì tuyệt vời hơn việc ngâm mình lâu trong bồn nước nóng.

  • If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all).

    Nếu bạn chỉ có thể tập thể dục một lần một tuần thì tốt hơn là không tập thể dục (= tốt hơn là không tập thể dục gì cả).

Extra examples:
  • I might not be a brilliant cook, but that meal's a darn sight better than anything you could do.

    Tôi có thể không phải là một đầu bếp giỏi, nhưng bữa ăn đó tuyệt vời hơn bất cứ điều gì bạn có thể làm.

  • I think he's a hundred times better as a teacher than Mr White.

    Tôi nghĩ anh ấy làm giáo viên giỏi hơn anh White gấp trăm lần.

more suitable or appropriate

phù hợp hơn hoặc thích hợp hơn

  • Can you think of a better word than ‘nice’?

    Bạn có thể nghĩ ra từ nào hay hơn từ ‘đẹp’ không?

  • It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems.

    Sẽ tốt hơn nếu anh ấy nói chuyện với bố mẹ về những vấn đề của mình.

  • You'd be better going by bus.

    Tốt hơn là bạn nên đi bằng xe buýt.

Extra examples:
  • I thought it better to tackle him outside of business hours.

    Tôi nghĩ tốt hơn nên giải quyết anh ta ngoài giờ làm việc.

  • We must make our inner cities better to live and work in.

    Chúng ta phải làm cho các thành phố nội thành trở nên tốt hơn để sống và làm việc.

more able; showing more skill

có khả năng hơn; thể hiện nhiều kỹ năng hơn

  • She's far better at science than her brother.

    Cô ấy giỏi khoa học hơn nhiều so với anh trai cô ấy.

less ill or unhappy

ít bệnh tật hoặc không hạnh phúc

  • She's a lot better today.

    Hôm nay cô ấy khỏe hơn nhiều rồi.

  • His leg was getting better.

    Chân của anh ấy đã khỏe hơn.

  • You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep.

    Bạn sẽ cảm thấy tốt hơn cho một giấc ngủ ngon.

fully recovered after an illness; in good health again

hồi phục hoàn toàn sau cơn bệnh; sức khỏe tốt trở lại

  • Don't go back to work until you are better.

    Đừng quay lại làm việc cho đến khi bạn khỏe hơn.

Extra examples:
  • Don't worry. The doctor will soon make you better.

    Đừng lo lắng. Bác sĩ sẽ sớm làm cho bạn khỏe hơn.

  • I hope you get better soon.

    Tôi hy vọng bạn sẽ sớm khỏe lại.

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary better

Idioms of vocabulary better

the best/better part of something
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
    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
    (saying)you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risks
    little/no better (than somebody/something)
    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
    (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
    used to give support to somebody who has been upset and is trying to become calmer
  • Dry your eyes now. That's better.
    • 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
    (saying)used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone

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