improvement

[im-proov-muhnt]

noun

1. an act of improving or the state of being improved.

2. a change or addition by which a thing is improved.

3. 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

4. a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment.

   Synonyms: repair, enhancement

5. something done or added to real property that increases its value.

6. profitable use, as of a period of time.

improvement

/ ɪmˈpruːvmənt /

noun

1. the act of improving or the state of being improved

2. something that improves, esp an addition or alteration

3. alteration of the structure, fixtures, fittings, or decor of a building without changing its function Compare conversion

4. (usually plural) a building or other works on a piece of land, adding to its value

Other Word Forms

• nonimprovement noun
• preimprovement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of improvement¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English improuement, from Anglo-French emprouement “something profitable (especially exploitation of land)”; improve, -ment

Example Sentences

And if HHS officials have concerns about mRNA vaccine side effects, that’s all the more reason to invest in their improvement.

Read more on Salon

“Introducing these algorithmic improvements translates into more revenue for that exact same infrastructure.”

Read more on Barron's

They believe this improvement could make gene therapy safer and more practical for treating a wide range of diseases.

Read more on Science Daily

While we staged home improvement scenes and appeared concerned about appliances, real life was much more dramatic than the show’s usual “Where’s your closet?” moments.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I think we’re in a much different place on the line than we were at this time last year, with some of our depth and the improvements we’ve made,” Riley said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advance 
• advancement 
• change 
• development 
• enhancement 
• gain 
• growth 
• increase 
• progress 
• recovery 
• renovation 
• revision 
• rise 
• upgrade