Better 可當形容詞、副詞、名詞和動詞用。Better 當形容詞和副詞時分別為 good 和 well 的比較級 (最高級為 best)，前者意為「更好的，較佳的，好轉的」等等，後者意為「更好地，更適當地，較大程度地」等等，如 Mary went to Taipei, hoping to find a better job. (瑪麗去台北，希望找到一份更好的工作)；Nothing could be better! (再好不過了！)；The situation’s no better. (情況沒有好轉)；If you want to get better, you have to take your medicine. (你若想康復就必須服藥)；Is his stomachache any better? (他的胃痛好些了嗎？)；Why was it that everyone else did better than me in the exams? (為什麼其他每個人都考得比我好呢？)；We’d better keep silent. (我們最好還是保持緘默)；I like Charlotte better than Anna. (比起安娜來，我更喜歡夏洛特)。
Better 當名詞時意為「更好的狀況；(人或事物) 較優者，較好者；上司 (複數型，以 someone’s betters 型態出現)」，如 The weather has changed for the better. (天氣已經好轉)；You should show more respect for your elders and betters. (你們應該更加尊重長輩和上司)；It’s so nice to see you again, and if you can lend me 10,000 dollars, all the better (= so much the better). (真高興又見到你，如果你能借我一萬塊，那就更好了)。用作動詞的 better 意為「勝過，超越；改善，改進」，其時態變化為 better bettered bettered bettering，如 Benjamin’s average score of 97 has never been bettered. (班傑明平均 97 的分數從未被超越)；The negotiation is an important step towards bettering relations between the United States and Cuba. (這項談判是改善美國和古巴關係的重要一步)。
Bettor 意為「打賭者；下注或投注者」，如 He’s a regular bettor of Taiwan Lotto for almost five years. (他近五年來固定投注購買台灣樂透彩券)。Bettor 是美式英語，而英式英語亦拼成 better，但國際上似乎大多使用 bettor，顯然是為了避免與 better 造成混淆。