- 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.
- 2better 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 Origin Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
BrE BrE//ˈbetə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetər//Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they better
BrE BrE//ˈbetə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetər//he / she / it betters
BrE BrE//ˈbetəz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetərz//past simple bettered
BrE BrE//ˈbetəd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetərd//past participle bettered
BrE BrE//ˈbetəd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetərd//-ing form bettering
BrE BrE//ˈbetərɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbetərɪŋ//