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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pushing back on the suggestion that the trial is a referendum on the healthcare system, Sprague argued that Clancy had better-than-average access to medical care but did not properly use it. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Few Vikings players have had better training camps than those two. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 New research found that people who took a daily multivitamin had better functional health than those who took a placebo. — Jamie Ducharme, HEALTH, 25 Aug. 2026 Sanders, who had a higher completion percentage than Watson but threw one more interception, had better stay ready. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for had better

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of had better was in the 15th century

Rhymes for had better

See All Rhymes for had better

Browse Nearby Words

hadarim
had better
hadbot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Had better.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/had%20better. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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