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improve Definition

im·prove (im pro̵̅o̅v′)

transitive verb -·proved′, -·prov′·ing

  1. Now Rare to use profitably or to good advantage to improve one's leisure by studying
  2. to raise to a better quality or condition; make better
  3. ☆ to make (land or structures) more valuable by cultivation, construction, etc.

Etymology: earlier improw < Anglo-Fr emprower < en-, in + prou, gain, advantage < LL prode, advantage (back-form. < L prodesse, to be of advantage): see pro- & is

intransitive verb

to become better in quality or condition

improve Related Forms
im·prov′·abil′·ity noun im·prov′·able adjective im·prov′er noun
improve Idioms

improve on

or improve upon

to do or make better than, as by additions or changes

improve Synonyms

improve

v.

  1. To make better

    better, ameliorate, mend, amend, enhance, enrich, cultivate, revise, update, upgrade, elevate, polish, refine, purify, enlarge, touch up, edit, emend, civilize, educate, meliorate, landscape, develop, revamp, renew, give color to, set right, reorganize, promote, reform, raise, lift, rectify, correct, rehabilitate, renovate, spruce up, gentrify, refashion, regenerate, retread, overhaul, fix, straighten out, distill, change for the better, fix up*, doctor up*, give a good going over*, be the making of*; see also adjust 3, change 1, correct 1, repair.

    Antonyms destroy*, impair, downgrade.

  2. To become better

    get better, advance, progress, make progress, show improvement, make strides, make headway, gain ground, ameliorate, regenerate, renew, recover, gain strength, develop, grow better, grow, rally, mend, gain, come around, profit, augment, widen, increase, mellow, mature, come along, come on, get on, get along, take a new lease on life*, look up*, shape up*, pick up*, perk up*, snap out of it*; see also recover 2, 3.

    Antonyms weaken*, worsen, deteriorate.

improve and better both imply a correcting or advancing of something that is not in itself necessarily bad, the former by supplying a lack or want to improve a method and the latter by seeking something more satisfying he's left his job to better himself; ameliorate implies improving to some degree a condition that is bad, oppressive, or intolerable to begin with to ameliorate the lot of the poor

improve Usage Examples

Object

  • quality: Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang is helping to improve air quality with a cleaner, quieter engine.
  • efficiency: The agency claimed that the measures were part of efforts by the government " to improve the efficiency of using foreign investment " .
  • performance: She explains how sports science support can help to improve athletic performance... Q: In simple terms, what is sports science?
  • safety: The review group has published an interim report outlining a number of recommendations to improve the safety of the event in 2001.
  • access: This was designed to improve access to what by then was the main port for the short crossing to Ireland.
  • health: Opportunities for improving the health of elderly people have been limited.

Subject

  • addition: Mineral concentrations were higher in organic soils whilst soil quality on conventional farms was significantly improved by the addition of organic fertilizer.

Preposition: as

  • result: Innovation, experimentation and risk taking would be encouraged and services should improve as a result.

Modifying Another Word

  • dramatically: Access, including lifts to the upper floors, will be dramatically improved.
  • significantly: Mineral concentrations were higher in organic soils whilst soil quality on conventional farms was significantly improved by the addition of organic fertilizer.
  • greatly: Indeed, they say, the quality of service has greatly improved.
  • vastly: This enhances job satisfaction and thus in turn creates a vastly improved service to the customer.
  • continually: We value positive attitude and welcome change to continually improve all that we do.
  • continuously: Clinical Governance is a framework which helps staff to continuously improve and safeguard standards of patient care.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • upon: They can also make non compulsory recommendations to the Charity on how they feel these services can be improved upon.

Used with why or when

  • when: The savers are a bit basic but will hopefully improve when I can afford some better software and have acquired more images.
  • what: If you have sent us your comments we will try to use what you say to help us improve what we do.

Present participle complement

  • learn: Also under development are a Local Employment Initiative and IT projects to improve learning and employment opportunities.
  • live: Part of the same movement to improve living conditions in industrial towns was the setting up of Medical Officers of Health.

Preposition: by

  • addition: Mineral concentrations were higher in organic soils whilst soil quality on conventional farms was significantly improved by the addition of organic fertilizer.
improve Quotes

We don't want apartheid liberalized.We want it dismantled.You can't improve something that is intrinsically evil.

—Tutu, Desmond Mpilo

Peanut butter has survived everything that has been done to improve it.

—Keillor, (Gary Edward) Garrison

We are living now, not in the delicious intoxication induced by the early successes of science, but in a rather grisly morning-after, when it has become apparent that what triumphant science has donehitherto isto improve the means for achieving unimproved or actually deteriorated ends.

—Huxley, Aldous Leonard