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Compete vs Better - What's the difference?

compete | better |

As verbs the difference between compete and better

is that compete is while better is to improve.

As an adjective better is

(good).

As an adverb better is

.

As a noun better is

an entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior or better can be .

compete

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

  • To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing, position, or reward for which another is striving; to contend in rivalry, as for a prize or in business; as, tradesmen compete with one another.
  • Usage notes

    A person will compete for'' a prize received for winning a competition. Two or more persons ''compete against'' one another if they are rivals. Two or more persons can ''compete with'' each other as teammates, however ''compete with'' is also used to indicate two persons ''competing against each other.

    Derived terms

    * competitor * competition * noncompete

    better

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) better, bettre, betre, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (good)
  • * {{quote-video, date = 2002-11-01
  • , title = , episode = , number = 4 , passage = Badger:'' You think you're better''' than other people.
    ''Mal:'' Just the ones I'm '
    better than. }}
  • (well)
  • larger, greater
  • Derived terms
    * better dead than red * better half * better off * betterness * better part of * get better

    Adverb

    (head)
  • * 1901 , ,
  • “I’ve had enough of cycling with you chaps. I can spend my Sundays better than in tormenting cats and quarrelling and fighting.”
  • More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
  • ten miles and better
    Derived terms
    * had better * 'd better

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To improve.
  • * Wordsworth
  • Love betters what is best.
  • * Thackeray
  • He thought to better his circumstances.
  • * Macaulay
  • the constant effort of every man to better himself
  • To become better; to improve.
  • (Carlyle)
  • To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
  • * Hooker
  • The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered .
  • To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
  • * Milton
  • Weapons more violent, when next we meet, / May serve to better us and worse our foes.
  • (slang) Had better.
  • You better do that if you know what's good for you.
    Derived terms
    * betterer * betterment
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
  • He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
  • * Hooker
  • Their betters would hardly be found.

    Derived terms

    * get the better of

    Etymology 2

    Alternate pronunciation of (bettor) or modern formation from the verb to (bet).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Statistics

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