IMPROVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does improve mean? 

• IMPROVE (verb)
  The verb IMPROVE has 2 senses:

1. to make better

2. get better

  Familiarity information: IMPROVE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPROVE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they improve    ... he / she / it improves   
Past simple: improved   
Past participle: improved   
-ing form: improving   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To make better

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate

Context example:

The editor improved the manuscript with his changes

Hypernyms (to "improve" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Cause:

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Verb group:

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "improve"):

reform (make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices)

educate (give an education to)

reform (improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition)

beautify; embellish; fancify; prettify (make more beautiful)

build (improve the cleansing action of)

hone; perfect (make perfect or complete)

down; fine-tune; polish; refine (improve or perfect by pruning or polishing)

distill; make pure; purify; sublimate (remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation)

fructify (make productive or fruitful)

lift; raise (invigorate or heighten)

advance (develop further)

upgrade (give better travel conditions to)

bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

enhance (make better or more attractive)

iron out; put right; straighten out (settle or put right)

emend (make improvements or corrections to)

condition (put into a better state)

upgrade (to improve what was old or outdated)

help (improve; change for the better)

turn around (improve dramatically)

build up; develop (change the use of and make available or usable)

enrich (make better or improve in quality)

regenerate; revitalize (restore strength)

aid; help (improve the condition of)

alleviate; assuage; palliate; relieve (provide physical relief, as from pain)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They improve their earnings this year

Derivation:

improvement (the act of improving something)

improver (a component that is added to something to improve it)

improver (someone devoted to the promotion of human welfare and to social reforms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get better

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate

Context example:

The weather improved toward evening

Hypernyms (to "improve" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "improve"):

heal (get healthy again)

reform; see the light; straighten out (change for the better)

surge (see one's performance improve)

pick up; turn around (improve significantly; go from bad to good)

bounce back; get over; get well (improve in health)

heal; mend (heal or recover)

fructify (become productive or fruitful)

upgrade (get better travel conditions)

convalesce; recover; recuperate (get over an illness or shock)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Their earnings improve this year

Derivation:

improvement (a change for the better; progress in development)

improvement (a condition superior to an earlier condition)

 Context examples 

"I think not, for I might see something sad, and everyone looks so happy now, I don't believe they could be much improved."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

During the first week of February, look for ways to improve your appearance, including new clothes or accessories to wear.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A question about whether an individual is or was always trying to improve their physical appearance.

(Always Trying to Improve Physical Appearance, NCI Thesaurus)

A scientific and educational association of surgeons with the main goal to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

(American College of Surgeons, NCI Thesaurus)

He had fought more fights, knew how to meet more tricks and methods, and had more tricks himself, while his own method was scarcely to be improved upon.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

We shall soon improve our youthful humours.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In vaccines, this agent binds to the protein conjugate, resulting in improved antigen processing by the immune system.

(Aluminum Hydroxide, NCI Thesaurus)

A substance that relaxes muscle tissue in blood vessels and in the prostate gland, which improves the flow of urine and blood.

(Alpha-adrenergic antagonist, NCI Dictionary)

No: you are very well; and much improved of late; and Mr. Rochester, I daresay, is fond of you.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A larger society would improve them.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)