improve
verb
im·prove im-ˈprüv 
improved; improving
transitive verb
1
a
: to enhance in value or quality : make better
b
: to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings)
c
: to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement
2
: to use to good purpose
3
archaic : employ, use
intransitive verb
1
: to advance or make progress in what is desirable
2
: to make useful additions or amendments
improvability
(ˌ)im-ˌprü-və-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun improvable
(ˌ)im-ˈprü-və-bəl
adjective improver noun
Synonyms
- ameliorate
- amend
- better
- enhance
- enrich
- help
- meliorate
- perfect
- refine
- upgrade
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
This operation will greatly improve her chances of survival. The advertising campaign has improved sales. Maybe we'll buy a house when our financial situation improves. Her writing has improved since the beginning of the school year. The company has been having steadily improving sales.
Recent Examples on the Web The sides battled in the opening half with the Knights only leading by 2 at halftime Saturday night, but UCF pulled away in the second half to improve to 2-1. 
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2022 The game is designed to improve attention, memory and processing speed. Betsy Morris, WSJ, 18 Sep. 2022 Airlines are taking steps to improve their operations. Michael Salerno, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2022 Without the benefit of as many pickoff throws, Syndergaard will need to improve his timing to the plate. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2022 Combined with aeration and overseeding, compost works to improve the strength of the roots. Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2022 When Falcons have the ball: Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL draft, is the quarterback for a team trying to improve on last season’s 7-10 record under second-year coach Arthur Smith. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 CovCath, ranked fifth in this week’s Associated Press media poll in Class 5A, won its fourth straight game to improve to 4-1. James Weber, The Enquirer, 17 Sep. 2022 But things aren't expected to improve significantly anytime soon. Michelle Toh And Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 16 Sep. 2022 See More
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2022 The game is designed to improve attention, memory and processing speed. Betsy Morris, WSJ, 18 Sep. 2022 Airlines are taking steps to improve their operations. Michael Salerno, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2022 Without the benefit of as many pickoff throws, Syndergaard will need to improve his timing to the plate. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2022 Combined with aeration and overseeding, compost works to improve the strength of the roots. Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2022 When Falcons have the ball: Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL draft, is the quarterback for a team trying to improve on last season’s 7-10 record under second-year coach Arthur Smith. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 CovCath, ranked fifth in this week’s Associated Press media poll in Class 5A, won its fourth straight game to improve to 4-1. James Weber, The Enquirer, 17 Sep. 2022 But things aren't expected to improve significantly anytime soon. Michelle Toh And Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 16 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English improuen, emprouen, from Anglo-French emprouer to make profit from, from French en- + pru, prou advantage, from Late Latin prode — more at proud
First Known Use
1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing improve
Kids Definition
improve
verb
im·prove im-ˈprüv
improved; improving
: to make or become better
Her writing has greatly improved.
improve
verb
as in to enhance
to make better a little salt would improve this bland food Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enhance
- help
- better
- refine
- upgrade
- amend
- remedy
- ameliorate
- remediate
- enrich
- perfect
- reinforce
- strengthen
- intensify
- correct
- boost
- meliorate
- rehabilitate
- reform
- rectify
- revise
- rework
- fine-tune
- refurbish
- revamp
- fine
- edit
- fortify
- emend
- polish
- rehab
- redraft
- hone
- reenforce
- retouch
- touch up
- beef (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- worsen
- impair
- hurt
- reduce
- harm
- damage
- injure
- spoil
- tarnish
- vitiate
- diminish
- flaw
- lessen
- disfigure
- blight
- lower
- mar
- endamage
- deface
- blemish
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of improve are ameliorate, better, and help. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.
measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot
Although the words ameliorate and improve have much in common, ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.
tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements
While the synonyms help and improve are close in meaning, help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.
a coat of paint would help that house
- summer stone
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- summer trout
- summer truffle
- summer warbler
- summer yellowbird
- summer yellowlegs
- summer's darling
- summer-up
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- summered
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- summeriness
- summering
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- summerise