Phrase guide

had better

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Should; ought to; need to; must.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal, with-infinitive

Examples

  • You had better finish that homework on time, if you want to get a good grade.
  • “Will we get it finished?” / “We had better.”
  • The project had better get finished by the current deadline.
  • I ought to go and see Mike one of these days. - Well, you'd better do it soon, because he’s leaving for Tanzania at the end of the week.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See better (adverb)

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Asturian: valir más — should; ought to; must
  • Azerbaijani: yaxşısı — should; ought to; must
  • Azerbaijani: yaxşısı budur — should; ought to; must
  • Catalan: ser millor — should; ought to; must
  • Chinese Cantonese: 最好 (zeoi3 hou2) — should; ought to; must
  • Chinese Mandarin: 最好 (zuìhǎo) — should; ought to; must
  • Esperanto: devus — should; ought to; must
  • French: valoir mieux — should; ought to; must
  • French: avoir intérêt — should; ought to; must
  • French: faire bien de — should; ought to; must
  • Georgian: უნდა (unda) — should; ought to; must
  • Georgian: ჯობია (ǯobia) — should; ought to; must
  • Italian: dovere — should; ought to; must
  • Polish: lepiej — should; ought to; must
  • Portuguese: seria melhor — should; ought to; must
  • Portuguese: deveria — should; ought to; must
  • Romanian: face bine — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: valer más — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: pobre de — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: más vale que — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: mejor que — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: sería mejor que — should; ought to; must
  • Spanish: más valerle que — should; ought to; must
  • Turkish: iyisi mi — should; ought to; must