improve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
improves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
improved,
past participle, past
-
improving
present participle
-
to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition.
He took vitamins to improve his health.
- Antonyms:
- worsen
-
to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
-
to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.
-
to make good use of; turn to account.
He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.
verb (used without object)
-
improves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
improved,
past participle, past
-
improving
present participle
-
to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better.
The military situation is improving.
- Antonyms:
- worsen
-
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.
verb
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to make or become better in quality; ameliorate
-
(tr) to make (buildings, land, etc) more valuable by additions or betterment
-
(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
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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improvabilitynoun
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improvablenessnoun
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improvernoun
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preimproveverb (used with object)
-
improvableadjective
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quasi-improvedadjective
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superimprovedadjective
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well-improvedadjective
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improvablyadverb
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improvinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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improvesimple
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improvessimple
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have improvedperfect
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has improvedperfect
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am improvingprogressive
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are improvingprogressive
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is improvingprogressive
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have been improvingperfect progressive
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has been improvingperfect progressive
Past
-
improvedsimple
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had improvedperfect
-
was improvingprogressive
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were improvingprogressive
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had been improvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of improve
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 ( see 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 ( cf. proud); the sound v was made by association with prove, approve
Explanation
When you improve something, you make it better. For example, you can improve your harmonica playing with practice. Be happy when you see this word, because something is getting better — improving. Getting a tutor will usually improve your grades. Sleeping well improves your health and alertness. A haircut could improve your looks. Painters have to decide whether a painting is finished or if it can still be improved. Voters decide which candidate will improve the nation. Sometimes a sick patient will mysteriously improve. The opposite of improve is worsen or deteriorate.
Vocabulary lists containing improve
"Hitching a Ride"
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"Brothers in Hope"
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Excerpt from "Do Something!"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Entalpic is now applying atomic-scale engineering to improve the efficiency of semiconductors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Overall, she is optimistic that the new curriculum and efforts in schools to improve standards will bear fruit in better Pisa scores in future.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Whether someone begins exercising in their 30s, 50s, or later, becoming more active can still help improve physical performance and preserve the abilities needed for a healthier, more independent life.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
The technology can also improve early warning systems.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
I thought I would improve the occasion and learn something, so I asked him:—
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
More carefully controlled research is needed to determine whether eating earlier actually improves liver health.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
It might be the rare trade that improves both organizations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
The goal of mourning is to make that phrase true: The memory of the dead actually improves our physical lives and our moral selves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
In addition to increasing energy output, this improves the appearance as the silver wires aren't visible.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Giving a rat a ride improves the posture.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Those who combined resistance training with aerobic exercise also improved their aerobic fitness.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Net cash outflows in superannuation and investments are less positive, but Pittaway reminds investors that flows were much improved compared with a year earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
A study examining nearly three decades of medical data found that stroke rates among adults ages 20 to 54 nearly doubled, even as the chances of surviving a stroke improved.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
The earlier it is spotted, the better, and treatments have improved over the last few decades.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Her Creole had improved substantially, allowing her to take accurate notes as they described their various pains and miseries.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
A more direct snapshot of the past six years also shows things are improving.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Beyond improving the predictions, the much larger reaction network exposed an unexpected mechanism involving hydrogen.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
"We are a chaotic, underdeveloped city with many problems" but "thanks to the Pope, things have been improving," said Sempertegui.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
“They’re big enough now where they could probably start to really begin focusing on improving gross profit margins and, you know, making money,” Armstrong said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
And when Dade County zeroed in on improving what officers did before they encountered the suspect, the number of complaints against officers and the number of injuries to officers and civilians plummeted.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
