had better

phrase

variants or had best

: would be wise to

had better go to bed

Examples of had better in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Participants with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke who reported sleeping well had better cognitive function and brain volume than their counterparts who slept poorly. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Nov. 2026

In a small 2017 study, adults with overweight or obesity who ate fatty fish had better blood sugar responses after meals than those who ate lean fish. — Lindsey Desoto, HEALTH, 4 Nov. 2026

After eight months, participants in that program had better results than those following a less intensive home exercise program. — Priya Bhardwaj, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

Thankfully, their Greenwich colleagues Charles Davidson and Andrew Crommelin at Sobral, northern Brazil, had better luck and their photographs confirmed Einstein's prediction. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for had better

• abettor
• newsletter
• typesetter
• bettor
• debtor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petter
• rhetor
• setter