improve

English Online Dictionary. What means improve‎? What does improve mean?

English

Alternative forms

• emprove (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɹuːv/
• Rhymes: -uːv

Verb

improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)

1. (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
2. (intransitive) To become better.
3. (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
4. (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
5. (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
   • March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter

     True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.

Synonyms

• (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “to make something worse”): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (antonym(s) of “to become worse”): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.