English Dictionary

Definition of “improve”

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improve (ɪmˈpruːvPronunciation for improve) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to make or become better in quality; ameliorate
  2. (tr) to make (buildings, land, etc) more valuable by additions or betterment
  3. (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

  1. See on the improve

Alternative Forms

imˈprovable adjective imˌprovaˈbility imˈprovableness noun imˈprovably adverb imˈprover noun imˈprovingly adverb

Word Origin

C16: from Anglo-French emprouer  to turn to profit, from en prou  into profit, from prou  profit, from Late Latin prōde  beneficial, from Latin prōdesse  to be advantageous, from pro-C16: from Anglo-French to turn to profit, from into profit, from profit, from Late Latin beneficial, from Latin to be advantageous, from 1 + to be + esse to be

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= enhance, better, add to, upgrade, amend, mend, augment, embellish, touch up, ameliorate, polish up,
= get better pick up, look up, develop, advance, perk up, take a turn for the better
= make better perfect, polish, strengthen, temper, refine, cultivate, elevate, hone,
= recuperate, recover, rally, mend, make progress turn the corner, gain ground, gain strength convalesce, be on the mend grow better make strides take on a new lease of life
= reform, shape up, get it together, turn over a new leaf, get your act together clean up your act pull your socks up

Translations

  • British English: improve Pronunciation for improve If something improves, or if you improve it, it gets better.The weather is improving. Time won't improve the situation.ɪmˈpruːv VERB The weather is improving. Time won't improve the situation.
  • Spanish: mejorar Pronunciation for mejorar v
  • French: améliorer Pronunciation for améliorer vt
  • German: verbessern Pronunciation for verbessern v
  • Chinese: 改进Pronunciation for 改进 v
  • Arabic: يُحَسِّنُPronunciation for يُحَسِّنُ v
  • Portuguese: melhorarPronunciation for melhorar v
  • Russian: улучшатьPronunciation for улучшать v
  • Croatian: poboljšatiPronunciation for poboljšati v
  • Czech: zlepšitPronunciation for zlepšit v lepšit
  • Danish: forbedrePronunciation for forbedre v
  • Dutch: verbeterenPronunciation for verbeteren v
  • Finnish: parantuaPronunciation for parantua vi
  • Greek: βελτιώνωPronunciation for βελτιώνω v
  • Italian: migliorarePronunciation for migliorare v
  • Japanese: 改善するPronunciation for 改善する v
  • Korean: 개선하다Pronunciation for 개선하다 v
  • Norwegian: forbedrePronunciation for forbedre v
  • Polish: ulepszyćPronunciation for ulepszyć v ulepszać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: melhorarPronunciation for melhorar v
  • European Spanish: mejorar Pronunciation for mejorar v
  • Swedish: förbättra (sig)Pronunciation for förbättra (sig) v
  • Thai: ทำให้ดีขึ้นPronunciation for ทำให้ดีขึ้น v
  • Turkish: geliştirmekPronunciation for geliştirmek v
  • Vietnamese: cải thiệnPronunciation for cải thiện v

Usage examples

  • I had a specialist who recommended origami to improve coordination.
    Nicola Barker, BEHINDLINGS (2002)
  • Then add the beer, sugar and dill, which greatly improve the flavour.
    Country Life (2004)
  • You must have goals and aspire to overachieve if you are to improve as a golfer.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • He also knows himself the standards he's set and, as we bring in better players, he will be looking to improve.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Allow yourself to see an upset as an opportunity to learn something, change something or improve matters to everyone's advantage.
    Carole Gaskell, YOUR POCKET LIFE COACH: 10 minutes a day to transform your life and your work (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'I'

Related Terms

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