improve

[im-proov]

verb (used with object)

improved, improving 

1. to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition.

   He took vitamins to improve his health.

   Synonyms: emend, amend
   Antonyms: worsen

2. to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.

3. to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.

4. to make good use of; turn to account.

   He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.

verb (used without object)

improved, improving 

1. to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better.

   The military situation is improving.

   Antonyms: worsen

2. to make improvements, as by revision, addition, or change.

   None of the younger violinists have been able to improve on his interpretation of that work.

improve

/ ɪmˈpruːv /

verb

1. to make or become better in quality; ameliorate

2. (tr) to make (buildings, land, etc) more valuable by additions or betterment

3. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to achieve a better standard or quality in comparison (with)

   to improve on last year's crop

noun

1. informal,  improving

Other Word Forms

• improvable adjective
• improvability noun
• improvableness noun
• improvably adverb
• improvingly adverb
• preimprove verb (used with object)
• quasi-improved adjective
• superimproved adjective
• well-improved adjective
• improver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of improve¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English improuen, emprouen from Anglo-French emprouer “to turn (something) into profit,” derivative of phrase en prou “into profit,” equivalent to en ( en- ¹ ) + prou, Old French prou, preu from Late Latin prōde (est), by reanalysis of Latin prōdest “(it) is beneficial, of use,” with prōde taken as a neuter noun ( proud ); the sound v was made by association with prove, approve

Word History and Origins

Origin of improve¹

C16: from Anglo-French emprouer to turn to profit, from en prou into profit, from prou profit, from Late Latin prōde beneficial, from Latin prōdesse to be advantageous, from _pro- ¹ + esse to be

Example Sentences

Its effects were exacerbated by the UC Board of Regents move in May 2020 to stop requiring the SAT in the name of making admissions more equitable and improving “educational quality.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Nearly 47% of Los Angeles County emerged from moderate drought, with the other portions improving to abnormally dry, the map shows.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Regardless of the source, home buyers can take heart that economists think buyers’ fortunes will improve slightly next year.

Read more on Barron's

Participants will develop skills across the entire development pipeline, from designing components and studying how light interacts with matter to improving high-power amplification and advancing practical applications.

Read more on Science Daily

He pointed to “significant strides” leveraging AI to improve user experience, augment advertising tools and boost engagement.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• advance 
• better 
• boost 
• correct 
• develop 
• enhance 
• help 
• increase 
• lift 
• progress 
• promote 
• raise 
• recover 
• reform 
• revamp 
• revise 
• rise 
• upgrade 

When To Use

What are other ways to say improve?

To improve something is to bring it into a more desirable or excellent condition. How is improve different from the verbs ameliorate and better? Find out on Thesaurus.com.