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
-
to make or become better in quality; ameliorate
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(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
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improvedsimple
-
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:
Football Daily: Can anyone stop Arsenal & how do City improve under Maresca?
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
For about a month, Báez trained with Cardinals coaches on his swing in an effort to improve his contact rate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Research involving older and inexpensive medications can be difficult to fund, even when those drugs have the potential to improve patient care while lowering costs.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
There’s a world where A.I.-assisted short films could improve in quality and possibly inspire less-recognized creatives to realize their ambitions.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026
“I was twelve. And for years after that, I thought, ‘I just need to come up with a better design, I just need to improve my skill with robotics, I just need stronger AI....’
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
One 2026 study found unstable surface training significantly improves postural control, or the ability to remain stable, in older adults.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
They’ve read the research documenting how the outdoors, including urban green spaces, improves cognition, social connection and physical strength, while decreasing depression and anxiety in all ages, but especially seniors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
"Patients will not care where that expertise comes from – they care whether it saves lives and improves treatment," Mason said.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Streaming revenue improves as HBO Max expands subscriber and advertising base.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Once they are back in Paris, his health improves a bit.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told ABC’s “This Week” that morale aboard the Lincoln has improved since sailors learned they will finally be coming home.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
He hit .287 with 20 homers in 2025 with his improved mechanics, earning a promotion to Double-A for the first time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
The researchers hope these findings can contribute to improved prevention and rehabilitation strategies designed to reduce falls and support healthy aging.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
Disability advocates hope the Paralympics can lead to improved access to social services and structures for people with disabilities during and after the Games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Newcomb worked alongside Director of the Geological Survey, John Wesley Powell, who had engineering training, to find a solution that improved on Jennings’s basic design.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Scattering straw between vines, known as mulching, is not new, but what has changed is its purpose: from improving general soil health to helping vineyards withstand a warming climate.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Take the construction of data centers vital to the future of AI, not to mention a constantly improving internet and better cellphone service.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
BofA increases its expectations for 2026, as first-half rate rises will earn through better than expected, while market pricing momentum is improving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
He has also emphasised affordability issues, running on a platform that includes lowering taxes, supporting farmers and improving healthcare.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
We’ve finished our shorthand course and are now working on improving our speed.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
