improvement
Americannoun
-
improvements
plural
-
a change or addition by which a thing is improved.
-
a person or thing that represents an advance on another in excellence or achievement.
The new landlord is a great improvement over his greedy predecessor.
- Synonyms:
- advancement, betterment, refinement
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a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment.
- Synonyms:
- repair, enhancement
-
something done or added to real property that increases its value.
-
profitable use, as of a period of time.
noun
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the act of improving or the state of being improved
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something that improves, esp an addition or alteration
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alteration of the structure, fixtures, fittings, or decor of a building without changing its function Compare conversion
-
(usually plural) a building or other works on a piece of land, adding to its value
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of improvement
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English improuement, from Anglo-French emprouement “something profitable (especially exploitation of land)”; see improve, -ment
Explanation
When there's improvement, something is getting better. Going from a C to an A in math is an improvement. If you want to improve something, you've got to make improvements. Lots of people strive for personal improvement: maybe it's losing a few pounds for an improvement in their appearance, or reading more for an improvement in intelligence. Businesses look for improvement in customer service or profitability. Any change for the better or step in the right direction is an improvement.
Vocabulary lists containing improvement
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 6
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 13
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-ment
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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:
Despite years of clinical guidance, estimates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in England have shown little improvement in recent decades.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
Cybersecurity demand remains a structural growth driver, the analyst says. 2H earnings should also be supported by the recognition of delayed sales in its internet security business and ongoing margin improvement initiatives, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"In terms of hardware capabilities, there will definitely be an improvement," the 37-year-old told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
“The Swan” was not a singular occurrence, then, but part of an era hawking cosmetic improvement, whether surgical or noninvasive, as the key to succeeding at life.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
I must admit it made a great improvement; he looks almost handsome, though he got the hair rather lopsided in back, where he could not see it in the mirror.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
The payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, established by Congress in 2008 to fund improvements to Medicare’s fee-for-service program.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
For example, performing 20 to 25 repetitions with a lighter weight can produce similar improvements to lifting a heavier weight ten times, provided the effort is high.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
“He knows that and hopefully we’ll get the improvements that we need in that area.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
AI is improving and adoption is growing much more quickly than with computers, and productivity improvements have been impressive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Thus, in principle, belief in magic ought to decline with improvements in technology, particularly medicine, and the beginnings of insurance policies and other methods of reducing the impact of unforeseen disasters.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
