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.
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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:
Chief Executive Noel Wallace said the recent period marked Colgate-Palmolive’s fourth quarter of sequential improvement in worldwide volume growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Eight of the nine companies in England were rated as "poor" or "requiring improvement", with only Severn Trent receiving the highest rating.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Sustainability may have been a focus for the Lucas gardens — the museum’s website trumpets solar panels on the roof and a rainwater irrigation system — but its planting choices have room for improvement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Although this does not establish that GLP-1 caused the improvement, it suggests that changes originating in the digestive system may be connected to muscle function as well as pain.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
“All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Metro also didn’t get $23 million for additional improvements at transit hubs, including seating, shade structures, Wi-Fi, restrooms, hydration stations, vending machines and concessions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
But a first breakthrough is usually followed by improvements and generalizations, so this might eventually lead to better data analysis tools in many branches of science.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
"We are transforming our network to improve long-term resilience of our water supply; protecting the environment and tackling leaks as part of our multibillion-pound plan to deliver the long-term improvements our customers and communities expect."
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
“We expect the company’s strengthening trend to continue into 2027,” analysts say, citing data centers, satellites, and improvements across the industrial and automotive end-markets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The Earthling figure who is most engaging to the Tralfamadorian mind, he says, is Charles Darwin—who taught that those who die are meant to die, that corpses are improvements.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
