go one better

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bet⋅ter

1 [bet-er]

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–adjective, compar. of good with best as superl.

1.	of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.

2.	morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.

3.	of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.

4.	larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.

5.	improved in health; healthier than before.

6.	completely recovered in health.

–adverb, compar. of well with best as superl.

7.	in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.

8.	to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.

9.	more: I walked better than a mile to town.

–verb (used with object)

10.	to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.

11.	to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.

12.	Cards. to raise (a previous bid).

–noun

13.	that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.

14.	Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.

—Idioms

15.

better off,

a.	in better circumstances.

b.	more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.

16.	better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.

17.	for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.

18.

get or have the better of,

a.	to get an advantage over.

b.	to prevail against.

19.	go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.

20.	had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.

21.	no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.

22.

think better of,

a.	to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.

b.	to form a higher opinion of.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME bettre, OE bet(t)(e)ra; c. OHG bezziro (G besser), D beter, ON betr, Goth batiza, equiv. to bat- (c. OHG baz (adv.) better; akin to boot ² ) + -iza comp. suffix; suggested relation to Skt bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best

Synonyms:
10. amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify. See improve.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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go¹ (gō)

v. went (wěnt), gone (gôn, gŏn), go·ing, goes (gōz)

v. intr.

To move or travel; proceed: We will go by bus. Solicitors went from door to door seeking donations. How fast can the boat go?
To move away from a place; depart: Go before I cry.
1. To pursue a certain course: messages that go through diplomatic channels to the ambassador.
2. To resort to another, as for aid: went directly to the voters of her district. See Synonyms at resort.
3. To extend between two points or in a certain direction; run: curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor.
4. To give entry; lead: a stairway that goes to the basement.
5. To have currency.
6. To pass from one person to another; circulate: Wild rumors were going around the office.
7. To continue to be in a certain condition or continue an activity: go barefoot.
8. To come to be in a certain condition: go mad; hair that had gone gray.
9. To continue to be in effect or operation: a lease with one year to go.
10. To carry out an action to a certain point or extent: Your parents went to great expense to put you through college.
11. To be customarily located; belong: The fork goes to the left of the plate. Where do the plates go?
12. To be capable of entering or fitting: Will the suitcase go into the trunk of your car?
13. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
14. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
15. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
16. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
17. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
18. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
19. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
20. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
21. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
22. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
23. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
24. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
25. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
26. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
1. To extend between two points or in a certain direction; run: curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor.
2. To give entry; lead: a stairway that goes to the basement.
3. To have currency.
4. To pass from one person to another; circulate: Wild rumors were going around the office.
5. To continue to be in a certain condition or continue an activity: go barefoot.
6. To come to be in a certain condition: go mad; hair that had gone gray.
7. To continue to be in effect or operation: a lease with one year to go.
8. To carry out an action to a certain point or extent: Your parents went to great expense to put you through college.
9. To be customarily located; belong: The fork goes to the left of the plate. Where do the plates go?
10. To be capable of entering or fitting: Will the suitcase go into the trunk of your car?
11. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
12. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
13. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
14. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
15. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
16. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
17. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
18. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
19. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
20. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
21. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
22. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
23. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
24. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To function properly: The car won't go.
1. To have currency.
2. To pass from one person to another; circulate: Wild rumors were going around the office.
3. To continue to be in a certain condition or continue an activity: go barefoot.
4. To come to be in a certain condition: go mad; hair that had gone gray.
5. To continue to be in effect or operation: a lease with one year to go.
6. To carry out an action to a certain point or extent: Your parents went to great expense to put you through college.
7. To be customarily located; belong: The fork goes to the left of the plate. Where do the plates go?
8. To be capable of entering or fitting: Will the suitcase go into the trunk of your car?
9. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
10. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
11. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
12. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
13. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
14. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
15. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
16. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
17. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
18. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
19. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
20. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
21. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
22. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To pass as the result of a sale: The gold watch went to the highest bidder.
Informal Used as an intensifier when joined by and to a coordinate verb: She went and complained to Personnel.
Used in the progressive tense with an infinitive to indicate future intent or expectation: I am going to learn how to dance.
1. To continue to be in a certain condition or continue an activity: go barefoot.
2. To come to be in a certain condition: go mad; hair that had gone gray.
3. To continue to be in effect or operation: a lease with one year to go.
4. To carry out an action to a certain point or extent: Your parents went to great expense to put you through college.
5. To be customarily located; belong: The fork goes to the left of the plate. Where do the plates go?
6. To be capable of entering or fitting: Will the suitcase go into the trunk of your car?
7. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
8. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
9. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
10. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
11. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
12. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
13. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
14. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
15. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
16. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
17. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
18. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
19. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
20. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To be called; be known: Our friend William often goes by Billy.
1. To be customarily located; belong: The fork goes to the left of the plate. Where do the plates go?
2. To be capable of entering or fitting: Will the suitcase go into the trunk of your car?
3. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
4. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
5. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
6. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
7. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
8. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
9. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
10. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
11. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
12. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
13. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
14. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
15. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
16. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
1. To pass into someone's possession: All the jewelry went to her heirs.
2. To be allotted: How much of your salary goes for rent?
3. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
4. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
5. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
6. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
7. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
8. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
9. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
10. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
11. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
12. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
13. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
14. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To be a contributing factor: It all goes to show us that the project can be completed on time.
1. To have a particular form: as the saying goes.
2. To be such, by and large: well behaved, as big dogs go.
3. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
4. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
5. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
6. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
7. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
8. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
9. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
10. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
11. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
12. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
1. To extend in time: The story goes back to the Middle Ages.
2. To pass by; elapse: The day went pleasantly enough until I received your call.
3. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
4. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
5. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
6. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
7. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
8. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
9. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
10. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
1. To be used up or finished: My interest in such things has gone.
2. To be discarded or abolished: All luxuries will have to go.
3. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
4. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
5. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
6. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
7. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
8. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
1. To become weak; fail: His hearing has started to go.
2. To give way; break up: The dam is about to go.
3. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
4. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
5. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
6. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To cease living; die.
1. To happen or develop; fare: How are things going?
2. To have a successful outcome: creativity that made the advertising campaign really go.
3. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
4. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
To be suitable or appropriate as an accessory or accompaniment: a color that goes beautifully with your complexion.
1. To have authority: Whatever I say goes.
2. To be valid, acceptable, or adequate.
Informal To excrete waste from the bladder or bowels.
Informal To begin an act: Here goes!
Obsolete To walk.

v. tr.

To proceed or move according to: I was free to go my own way.
To traverse: Only two of the runners went the entire distance.
To engage in: went skiing.
Informal
1. To bet: go $20 on the black horse.
2. To bid: I'll go $500 on the vase.
3. To take on the responsibility or obligation for: go bail for a client.
4. To participate to (a given extent): Will you go halves with me if we win the lottery?
Informal
1. To take on the responsibility or obligation for: go bail for a client.
2. To participate to (a given extent): Will you go halves with me if we win the lottery?
To amount to; weigh: a shark that went 400 pounds.
Sports To have as a record: went 3 for 4 against their best pitcher.
Informal To enjoy: I could go a cold beer right now.
To say or utter. Used chiefly in verbal narration: First I go, "Thank you," then he goes, "What for?"

n. pl. goes

The act or an instance of going.
An attempt; an effort: had a go at acting.
The time or period of an activity.
Informal Energy; vitality: had lots of go.
Informal
1. The go-ahead.
2. often Go The starting point: "And from Go there was something deliciously illicit about the whole affair" (Erica Abeel).
3. Informal A situation in which planned operations can be effectuated: The space mission is a go.

adj.

Informal Functioning correctly and ready for action: All systems are go.

Phrasal Verbs:

go about

To set about to do; undertake: Go about your chores in a responsible way.

go along

To cooperate: They get along by going along.

go around

To satisfy a demand or requirement: just enough food to go around.
To go here and there; move from place to place.
To have currency: rumors going around.
To attack, especially with energy.
To approach; undertake: He went at the job with a lot of energy.
To elapse; pass: as time goes by.
To pay a short visit: My parents were away when we went by last week.
1. To drop below the horizon; set: The sun went down.
2. To fall to the ground: The helicopter went down in a ball of fire.
3. To sink: The torpedoed battleship went down.
4. To experience defeat or ruin.
5. To be accepted or tolerated: How will your ideas go down as far as corporate marketing is concerned?
6. To come to be remembered in posterity: a debate that will go down as a turning point in the campaign.
7. To continue: Life must go on.
8. To keep on doing (something): Don't go on talking.
9. To proceed: She went on to become a senator.
10. To go outdoors; leave one's residence: He went out at seven.
11. To take part in social life outside the home: goes out a lot.
To admit of easy swallowing: a cough syrup that goes down readily.
To decrease in cost or value.
Chiefly British To leave a university.
Slang To occur; happen: "a collection of memorable pieces about the general craziness that was going down in those days" (James Atlas).
1. To be accepted or tolerated: How will your ideas go down as far as corporate marketing is concerned?
2. To come to be remembered in posterity: a debate that will go down as a turning point in the campaign.
3. To continue: Life must go on.
4. To keep on doing (something): Don't go on talking.
5. To proceed: She went on to become a senator.
6. To go outdoors; leave one's residence: He went out at seven.
7. To take part in social life outside the home: goes out a lot.
Vulgar Slang To perform fellatio or cunnilingus.
Informal To have a special liking for: I really go for progressive jazz.
To attack: an opponent who is known to go for the jugular in arguments.
To pass for or serve as: a couch that also goes for a bed.
To take part in a cooperative venture: went in with the others to buy a present.
To make an approach, as before an attack: Troops went in at dawn.
To discuss or investigate: The book goes into classical mythology.
To undertake as a profession or course of study: She's going into medicine.
To undergo detonation; explode.
To make a noise; sound: The siren went off at noon.
To leave: Don't go off mad.
Informal To adhere to the expected course of events or the expected plan: The project went off smoothly.
To take place; happen: didn't know what was going on.
1. To continue: Life must go on.
2. To keep on doing (something): Don't go on talking.
3. To proceed: She went on to become a senator.
4. To go outdoors; leave one's residence: He went out at seven.
5. To take part in social life outside the home: goes out a lot.
Informal To talk volubly: My, you do go on.
To become extinguished.
1. To go outdoors; leave one's residence: He went out at seven.
2. To take part in social life outside the home: goes out a lot.
To become unfashionable: High boots went out last year.
To undergo structural collapse: The bridge went out.
To gain acceptance or approval: a new style that didn't go over.
To examine or review: go over the test scores.
To examine carefully: went through the students' papers.
To experience: We went through hell while working on this project.
To perform: I went through the sonata in 30 minutes.
To suffer defeat or destruction; fail.
To lose consciousness.
To increase in price or value.
To be in the process of construction: Office buildings went up all over town.
Chiefly British To go to a university.
To date (someone) regularly.
To select or choose: decided to go with the pink wallpaper.

Phrasal Verb(s):
go aboutTo set about to do; undertake: Go about your chores in a responsible way.
go alongTo cooperate: They get along by going along.
go around

To satisfy a demand or requirement: just enough food to go around.
To go here and there; move from place to place.
To have currency: rumors going around.

go at

To attack, especially with energy.
To approach; undertake: He went at the job with a lot of energy.

go by

To elapse; pass: as time goes by.
To pay a short visit: My parents were away when we went by last week.

go down

1. To drop below the horizon; set: The sun went down.
2. To fall to the ground: The helicopter went down in a ball of fire.
3. To sink: The torpedoed battleship went down.
4. To experience defeat or ruin.
5. To be accepted or tolerated: How will your ideas go down as far as corporate marketing is concerned?
6. To come to be remembered in posterity: a debate that will go down as a turning point in the campaign.
To admit of easy swallowing: a cough syrup that goes down readily.
To decrease in cost or value.
Chiefly British To leave a university.
Slang To occur; happen: "a collection of memorable pieces about the general craziness that was going down in those days" (James Atlas).
1. To be accepted or tolerated: How will your ideas go down as far as corporate marketing is concerned?
2. To come to be remembered in posterity: a debate that will go down as a turning point in the campaign.
Vulgar Slang To perform fellatio or cunnilingus.

go for

Informal To have a special liking for: I really go for progressive jazz.
To attack: an opponent who is known to go for the jugular in arguments.
To pass for or serve as: a couch that also goes for a bed.

go in

To take part in a cooperative venture: went in with the others to buy a present.
To make an approach, as before an attack: Troops went in at dawn.

go into

To discuss or investigate: The book goes into classical mythology.
To undertake as a profession or course of study: She's going into medicine.

go off

To undergo detonation; explode.
To make a noise; sound: The siren went off at noon.
To leave: Don't go off mad.
Informal To adhere to the expected course of events or the expected plan: The project went off smoothly.

go on

To take place; happen: didn't know what was going on.
1. To continue: Life must go on.
2. To keep on doing (something): Don't go on talking.
3. To proceed: She went on to become a senator.
Informal To talk volubly: My, you do go on.

go out

To become extinguished.
1. To go outdoors; leave one's residence: He went out at seven.
2. To take part in social life outside the home: goes out a lot.
To become unfashionable: High boots went out last year.
To undergo structural collapse: The bridge went out.

go over

To gain acceptance or approval: a new style that didn't go over.
To examine or review: go over the test scores.

go through

To examine carefully: went through the students' papers.
To experience: We went through hell while working on this project.
To perform: I went through the sonata in 30 minutes.

go under

To suffer defeat or destruction; fail.
To lose consciousness.

go up

To increase in price or value.
To be in the process of construction: Office buildings went up all over town.
Chiefly British To go to a university.

go with

To date (someone) regularly.
To select or choose: decided to go with the pink wallpaper.

Idiom(s):
from the word goFrom the very beginning.

Idiom(s):
go all the waySlang To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom(s):
go back onTo fail to honor or keep: go back on a promise.

Idiom(s):
go beggingTo be in little or no demand: "Prestige or no prestige, directors' jobs at some companies have actually gone begging" (Bill Powell).

Idiom(s):
go belly up Informal To undergo total financial failure: "A record number of . . . banks went belly up" (New Republic).

Idiom(s):
go bust Informal To undergo financial collapse: "Railroads were in the news mainly when they were going bust" (Christian Science Monitor).

Idiom(s):
go by the boardTo be discarded or ignored: old dress codes that have now gone by the board.

Idiom(s):
go down the lineTo provide strong support.

Idiom(s):
go fly a kite Informal To cease being an annoyance. Often used in the imperative.

Idiom(s):
go for broke Informal To commit or expend all of one's available resources toward achievement of a goal: "Why not go for broke and take on somebody who is quite young and see what he does?" (Roger L. Stevens).

Idiom(s):
go for it Informal To expend all one's strength and resources toward achievement of an end or purpose.

Idiom(s):
go in for

To have interest in: goes in for classical music.
To take part in: goes in for water skiing.

Idiom(s):
go in withTo join in or combine with: He'll go in with them on the plan.

Idiom(s):
go it aloneTo undertake a project, trip, or responsibility without the presence or help of others.

Idiom(s):
go off the deep endTo behave hysterically or very recklessly.

Idiom(s):
go one betterTo surpass or outdo by one degree: He's gone me one better.

Idiom(s):
go out forTo seek to become a participant in: go out for varsity soccer.

Idiom(s):
go out of (one's) wayTo inconvenience oneself in doing something beyond what is required.

Idiom(s):
go out the window Informal To become insignificant or inoperative: "As soon as a third body is introduced to the Newtonian system, all lawful ordering of processes goes out the window" (Fusion).

Idiom(s):
go places Informal To be on the way to success: a young executive who is clearly going places.

Idiom(s):
go steadyTo date someone exclusively.

Idiom(s):
go the distanceTo carry a course of action through to completion.

Idiom(s):
go the voleTo risk all of one's resources in the prospect of achieving great gains.

Idiom(s):
go to itTo begin something right away.

Idiom(s):
go to (one's) head

To make one dizzy or inebriated.
To make one proud or conceited.

Idiom(s):
go to pieces

To lose one's self-control.
To suffer the loss of one's health.

Idiom(s):
go to the mat Informal To fight or dispute until one side or another is victorious: The governor will go to the mat with the legislature over the controversial spending bill.

Idiom(s):
go to the wall Informal

To lose a conflict or be defeated; yield: Despite their efforts, the team went to the wall.
To be forced into bankruptcy; fail.
To make an all-out effort, especially in defending another.

Idiom(s):
go to town Informal

To work or perform efficiently and rapidly.
To be highly successful.

Idiom(s):
go up in flames/smokeTo be utterly destroyed.

Idiom(s):
go without sayingTo be self-evident: It goes without saying that success is the product of hard work.

Idiom(s):
on the goConstantly busy or active.

Idiom(s):
to goTo be taken out, as restaurant food or drink: coffee and doughnuts to go.

[Middle English gon, from Old English gān; see ghē- in Indo-European roots.]

Our Living Language : Go has long been used to describe the production of nonlinguistic noises, notably in conversation with children, as in The train went "toot." The cow goes "moo." In recent years, however, many speakers have begun to use go in informal conversation to report speech, as in Then he goes, "You think you're real smart, don't you?" This usage parallels the quotation introducers be all and be like. But unlike these other expressions, which can indicate thoughts or attitudes, the quotational use of go is largely restricted to dialogue related in the narrative present, especially when the narrator wishes to mimic the accent or intonation of the original speaker. See Notes at all, like².

Word Origin & History

better

O.E. betera (see best). Comparative adj. of good in the older Gmc. languages (cf. O.N. betr, Dan. bedre, Ger. besser, Goth. batiza). Superseded bet in the adv. sense by 1600. Better half "wife" is first attested 1580; to get the better of (someone) is from 1461.

Idioms & Phrases

go one better

Outdo or surpass someone, as in He went one better than his teacher and came up with five more famous scientists. This expression originated in gambling games, where it meant "to offer a higher stake than one's opponent." [Mid-1800s]

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