had better

English

Alternative forms

• 'd better, better

Etymology

See better (adverb)

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

had better

1. (idiomatic, with bare infinitive, informal) Should; ought to; need to; must.

   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.

Usage notes

• The negative form is had better not, but in question hadn’t is also possible (see also bettern't).
• Had better is a strong expression. It usually indicates that there will be a consequence or negative result if someone does not follow the suggestion.
• Colloquially, had is often reduced to the clitic 'd or omitted. See better.

We'd better be ready when the time comes.

You better have my money by tomorrow.

Synonyms

• had best

Translations

should; ought to; must

• Asturian: valir más
• Catalan: ser millor
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 最好 (zeoi³ hou²)

  Mandarin: 最好 (zh) (zuìhǎo)

• Finnish: olisi parasta (subject in genitive)
• French: valoir mieux (fr), avoir intérêt, faire bien de (fr)
• Georgian: უნდა (unda), ჯობია (ka) (ǯobia)
• Italian: dovere (it)
• Portuguese: seria melhor, deveria (pt)
• Romanian: face bine
• Russian: (dative case, + past tense or infinitive) лу́чше (ru) (lúčše), (nominative or dative case, + past tense or infinitive) ...бы лу́чше (...by lúčše)
• Spanish: valer más