better than before
better /'bets1"/ [adj] I hope the weather's better next week.
+ than The food here's a lot better than it used to be.
get better His work got better after he changed schools.
much/far/a lot better I'm still not very good at Japanese, but I'm much better than I used to be.
be an improvement /Ы: эп impruiv-
тэпt/ to be better than something similar that you had or did before or that existed before
+ on This new heating system is definitely a big improvement on the old one.
improved /inVpruivd/ [adj only before noun] better than before, because changes have been made: the new improved Mark IV engine I improved relations between
India and Pakistan
Qthat's more like it /(аaets mo:r laik
it/ spoken say this when a situation is better than before, or when someone starts to do something better: Can't you walk faster - that's more like it. I He's reduced his price to $800 Now that's more like itl
to do something better
do better /du: betar/ to do something better than you did before, or do something better than someone else: You'd do better if you practised more often. + than John did better than most of the other students in the class. I Come on - you can do better than that!
improve on sth /impruiv Dn (sth)/
A Superior is more formal than better, and is mostly used in writing.
BETTER
[phrasal verb T] to do something better than it was done before, especially by trying very hard: We have improved on last year's results. I Smithson has 165
BETTER
points, and I don't think anyone will improve on that.
outdo /aot'du;/ [u T] to be more successful at something than someone else: Clare is always trying to outdo her sister
74
outdoing - outdid - have outdone
next day. I That bag's too small - you'll need a bigger one. I Boeing is the world's largest commercial airplane manufacturer. I They say it's the biggest music festival since Woodstock.
big - bigger - biggest
better after an illness
Q better /'beta7 [adj not before noun] especially spoken better after you have been ilclass="underline" Is Helen better yet? get better I hope you get better soon. 1 He was getting better every day.
well /wely lad; not before noun] when you are no longer ilclass="underline" As soon as you're well again, we'll go to Florida. cjget well soon spoken (say this when someone is ill)
recover /п'клуэг/ \v I] to get well again
after you have had an illness or injury: She had chickenpox, and it took her ten days to recover.
+ from Gascoigne is recovering from a knee injury.
A
be /ully recovered (=be completely well again) Mitchell is fully recovered and will be taking part in the race.
Recover js m0re formal than get better and is usually used about serious illnesses or injuries.
BIG
opposite small
if you want to know about word order with adjectives, go to the
essential grammar section 1 3
VWDE/NAWOW
MT^ ^ ^TALL
high
N z1
see also
THICK
4 \
grow
things/groups/ organizations
big/large /big, la:rdЪ1 [adj] His car's really big. 1 A large package came in the mail
A Big and large mean the same thing. Large jS a little more formal than big, so large is more common in written English, and big js more common in spoken English.
enormous/huge ;i'no:rm3s, hju:d3/ [adj!
very big and impressive: In the corner of the room there u>as a huge desk. 1 a cathedral with an enormous tower 1 Huge crowds had gathered oufside the embassy.
A
Don't say 'very enormous' or Very huge', just say enormous 0r huge.
9Igantic /d3ai'gaentik/ [adj] something that is gigantic is much bigger than other things of the same type, often in a slightly strange or frightening way: Gigantic waves more than 40 feet high crashed against the boat. I These gigantic creatures became extinct in the Jurassic period.
places/areas/cities/ rooms
big/large /big, lartfe/ [adj] London is the
biggest city in Europe. I I like the bed room - it's really big. I Flooding has affected large areas of the country.
You can usually use big and large in the same situations, but it is more usual to talk about big cities and towns and large
big - bigger - biggest
A
areas.
enormous/huge .viw/mos. hju:d3/ [adj]
very big and impressive: They have a huge garden. I The kitchen was enormous. I The Grosvenor family once owned huge areas of land.
spacious /'speifas/ [adj] use this about the inside of a room or building that has a lot of space: a spacious apartment in Manhattan I Jenny's kitchen is spacious, fight, and airy. I the company 's spacious
offices in Oxford
people
ьее also tall fat
big I large /big, Ia:rd3,/ [adj] use this about someone who is tall and has a large body: My father was a big man, with legs like tree trunks. I A large woman in her early 50s answered the door
Д Large j5 more formal than big and is used especially in written descriptions, ft is not polite to tell a woman that she is big or large.
well-built / weI hi! 14 [ad;] use this about someone who is big and strong and has a lot of muscles: He was handsome and well-built, like a Hollywood movie star.