better

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. t. mend, correct, relieve. See improvement, superiority.

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

1. [Superior]

Syn. greater, finer, preferred, preferable, surpassing, excelling, improved, more suitable, more deSirable, more favorable, more virtuous; see also best 1 , excellent .

2. [Thought of as somewhat exclusive]

Syn. more select, of higher quality, more refined, more aloof, more noteworthy, more distinguished, more sophisticated, politer, posher*, classier*.

Ant. common*, vulgar, popular.

3. [Recovering health]

Syn. convalescent, improved in health, stronger, recovering, convalescing, improving, on the road to recovery, mending, progressing, on the mend*.

Ant. sick*, failing, wasting away.

4. [Larger]

Syn. bigger, preponderant, weightier, more; see large 1 , more 2 .

• for better or worse,

Syn. regardless, in any event, no matter what happens; see anyhow 1 , notwithstanding .

• for the better,

Syn. favorable, fortunate, resulting in improvement, to a better condition; see helpful 1 , hopeful 2 .

• get or [m1]• have the better of ,

Syn. outdo, overcome, defeat, outwit; see defeat 1 , 2 , 3 , surpass , win 1 .

v.

1. [To improve]

Syn. ameliorate, revamp, refine; see improve 1 .

2. [To surpass]

Syn. outdo, improve upon, top; see exceed , surpass .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

v.

improve, enrich, advance, promote, upgrade.

II

a.

finer, superior, surpassing, topping, first-rate, preeminent, peerless, supreme, excelling.

ANT.: worse, inferior, lower

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I adverb To a greater extent: more. See BIG. II noun 1. One who stands above another in rank: elder, senior, superior. Informal: higher-up. See OVER. 2. A dominating position, as in a conflict: advantage, bulge, draw, drop, edge, superiority, upper hand, vantage. Informal: inside track, jump. See OVER. III verb 1. To advance to a more desirable state: ameliorate, amend, help, improve, meliorate, upgrade. See HELP. 2. To be greater or better than: best, exceed, excel, outdo, outmatch, outrun, outshine, outstrip, pass, surpass, top, transcend. Informal: beat. Idioms: go beyond, go one better. See BIG.

V

(Roget's Thesaurus II) adjective 1. Of greater excellence than another: preferable, superior. See BETTER. 2. Much more than half: best, greater, larger, largest, most. See BETTER, BIG.

VI

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun See bettor.