improve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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)
-
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
-
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
- improvability noun
- improvable adjective
- improvableness noun
- improvably adverb
- improver noun
- improvingly adverb
- preimprove verb (used with object)
- quasi-improved adjective
- superimproved adjective
- well-improved adjective
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 ( 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
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.
They said they work closely with participants to improve their behavior — and turn to expulsion only as a last resort.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
The initiative aims to improve online listing accuracy, which retailers struggle with, and prepare for AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
The Crime and Policing Bill, now in its final stages in parliament, has been framed to improve authorities' crackdowns on knife crime, anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, shoplifting and child abuse.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
The new findings suggest that targeting this brain circuit could help improve cognitive symptoms associated with the disorder.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
More like, mistakes are proof you need to find a way to improve.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
