improvement
Americannoun
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a change or addition by which a thing is improved.
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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
- nonimprovement noun
- preimprovement noun
Etymology
Origin of improvement
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English improuement, from Anglo-French emprouement “something profitable (especially exploitation of land)”; improve, -ment
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.
Hashimi charges into the breach with a head full of “improvements” she plans to make before Robby has even gone off duty.
He added that voters would judge the government at the next election on whether they had delivered improvements to public services and the NHS.
From BBC
While silybin led to modest improvements in liver enzymes, collagen buildup, and fibrotic gene expression, its benefits appeared to come mainly from protecting liver cells rather than directly blocking stellate cell activation.
From Science Daily
About 91% of peer mentors said the training and resources they received were useful, citing improvements in leadership and communication skills, increased confidence and additional interest in pursuing a career in mental health.
From Los Angeles Times
The improvement is a sign that more buyers are finding home purchases palatable even at recent rates—a good sign for demand in 2026.
From Barron's
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.
