improve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition.
He took vitamins to improve his health.
- Antonyms:
- worsen
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to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
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to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.
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to make good use of; turn to account.
He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.
verb (used without object)
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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
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to make or become better in quality; ameliorate
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(tr) to make (buildings, land, etc) more valuable by additions or betterment
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(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)
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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
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had improvedperfect
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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:
Sazerac said its $32-a-share bid has backing from Wells Fargo and Apollo Global Management, and it is ready to improve the terms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The letter added that Sazerac “stands ready to improve the terms of our offer” if Brown-Forman’s board engages on the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
He said, in May, "things thankfully started to improve a bit" and he was able to attend his graduation.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
But she remained optimistic, hopeful that the situation will improve "because firefighters are working night and day to put out the fire".
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
The price tag was $14,600 a year, but Elizebeth was sure that the expanded unit would improve the Treasury’s bottom line.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
America’s edge is alignment—getting AI to act as designers intend even as it improves itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Much of the spending is on artificial intelligence, a technology that improves the quality of software.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Labour advocates question whether app-based work meaningfully improves workers' conditions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
So if it turns out that, say, continuity of care, greater integration, that improves outcomes - then a competitive market would lead to that, like it does in other sectors.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
If the patient improves, you take credit; if he remains stable, your treatment stopped his downward course.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
SAN CLEMENTE: Just trust Jaxson Rex to do anything and everything for improved Tritons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
New concourses, expanded corridors and improved passenger facilities have reshaped the transit hub, which serves hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers each day and remains the busiest rail station in the United States.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Iran seems to have improved its missile attacks, likely by studying previous launches and figuring out how to maximize the possibility the weapons will get through, Hinz said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
However, only the inulin group experienced improved grip strength and lower pain sensitivity.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
Not only is there more instrumentation on the mountain today than there was in 1980, the instruments themselves have improved.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
She said she would be working on calming her pre-match nerves as much as improving her swing.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Transit advocates likewise dismissed the idea, arguing lawmakers should remain focused on completing the station’s redevelopment and improving passenger service rather than debating a name change.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Intel plans to ramp its investments to support what looks to be an improving demand outlook, Tan says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“July’s upturn may not be the start of an improving trend,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
He would always ask me to write him back and let him know if his handwriting was improving.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
