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
intransitive verb
1
: to advance or make progress in what is desirable
2
: to make useful additions or amendments
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for improve
improve, better, help, ameliorate 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
help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.
a coat of paint would help that house
ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.
tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements
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
Damari Alston showed promising signs as a freshman last season and has improved.
—
Nubyjas Wilborn | , al, 11 Apr. 2023
Such capabilities had ample precedents, but widespread availability of GPS guidance, the decline of arms control treaties, and hugely improved satellite and drone reconnaissance for target acquisition make such arms more effective, affordable, and accessible than before.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 11 Apr. 2023
This sign is open to adjusting in order to perfect or improve something.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Women’s Health, 11 Apr. 2023
Marked changes in behavior: social connections, goals, sleep, emotionality and even drastically improved mood.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2023
As observational and analysis techniques improved, astronomers uncovered cooler planets as well, but even today these are still difficult to detect.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2023
Much of West, a city of 2,500 people located 80 miles south of Dallas, has improved since the blast, Mayor Tommy Muska said.
—USA Today, 10 Apr. 2023
Vogt wrote that the swift updating of the cars’ software demonstrates a benefit of autonomous technology, which can be constantly monitored and improved upon.
—Andrea Guzman, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2023
But improving the diet of an individual, let alone a population, is challenging.
—Christopher Damman, Fortune Well, 10 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘improve.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of improve was
in 1509
Dictionary Entries Near improve
Cite this Entry
“Improve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improve. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
im·prove
(ĭm-pro͞ov′)
v. im·proved, im·prov·ing, im·proves
v.tr.
1. To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition; make better: Exercise can improve your health.
2. To increase the productivity or value of (land or property): improved the house by adding a bathroom.
v.intr.
1. To become better: Economic conditions are improving.
2. To make beneficial additions or changes: You can improve on the translation of that text.
[Middle English improwen, to enclose land for cultivation, from Anglo-Norman emprouwer, to turn to profit : Old French en-, causative pref. (from Latin in-; see in-2) + Old French prou, profit (from Late Latin prōde, advantageous; see proud).]
im·prov′a·ble adj.
im·prov′a·bly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
improve
(ɪmˈpruːv)
vb
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.
n
on the improve informal Austral improving
[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-1 + esse to be]
imˈprovable adj
imˌprovaˈbility, imˈprovableness n
imˈprovably adv
imˈprover n
imˈprovingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
im•prove
(ɪmˈpruv)
v. -proved, -prov•ing. v.t.
1. to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition; make better: improving one’s health.
2. to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
3. to increase the value of (real property) by betterments.
v.i.
4. to increase in quality or value; become better.
5. to make improvements.
[1425–75; late Middle English improuen, emprouen < Anglo-French emprouer < Late Latin prōde (est), Latin prōdest (it) is beneficial, of use]
im•prov′a•ble, adj.
im•prov`a•bil′i•ty, im•prov′a•ble•ness, n.
im•prov′a•bly, adv.
im•prov′ing•ly, adv.
syn: improve, ameliorate, better imply bringing to a more desirable state. improve usu. implies remedying a lack or a felt need: to improve a process. ameliorate, a formal word, implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions: to ameliorate working conditions. better implies improving conditions that are adequate but could be more satisfactory: to better a previous attempt; to better oneself by study.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
improve
— First meant «to make a profit for oneself» or «to employ to advantage; to make profitable use of.»
See also related terms for profit.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
improve
Past participle: improved
Gerund: improving
| Imperative |
|---|
| improve |
| improve |
| Present |
|---|
| I improve |
| you improve |
| he/she/it improves |
| we improve |
| you improve |
| they improve |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I improved |
| you improved |
| he/she/it improved |
| we improved |
| you improved |
| they improved |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am improving |
| you are improving |
| he/she/it is improving |
| we are improving |
| you are improving |
| they are improving |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have improved |
| you have improved |
| he/she/it has improved |
| we have improved |
| you have improved |
| they have improved |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was improving |
| you were improving |
| he/she/it was improving |
| we were improving |
| you were improving |
| they were improving |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had improved |
| you had improved |
| he/she/it had improved |
| we had improved |
| you had improved |
| they had improved |
| Future |
|---|
| I will improve |
| you will improve |
| he/she/it will improve |
| we will improve |
| you will improve |
| they will improve |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have improved |
| you will have improved |
| he/she/it will have improved |
| we will have improved |
| you will have improved |
| they will have improved |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be improving |
| you will be improving |
| he/she/it will be improving |
| we will be improving |
| you will be improving |
| they will be improving |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been improving |
| you have been improving |
| he/she/it has been improving |
| we have been improving |
| you have been improving |
| they have been improving |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been improving |
| you will have been improving |
| he/she/it will have been improving |
| we will have been improving |
| you will have been improving |
| they will have been improving |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been improving |
| you had been improving |
| he/she/it had been improving |
| we had been improving |
| you had been improving |
| they had been improving |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would improve |
| you would improve |
| he/she/it would improve |
| we would improve |
| you would improve |
| they would improve |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have improved |
| you would have improved |
| he/she/it would have improved |
| we would have improved |
| you would have improved |
| they would have improved |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Verb | 1. |  improve — to make better; «The editor improved the manuscript with his changes»
aid, help — improve the condition of; «These pills will help the patient» alter, change, modify — cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; «The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city»; «The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue» enrich — make better or improve in quality; «The experience enriched her understanding»; «enriched foods» build up, develop — change the use of and make available or usable; «develop land»; «The country developed its natural resources»; «The remote areas of the country were gradually built up» turn around — improve dramatically; «The new strategy turned around sales»; «The tutor turned around my son’s performance in math» help — improve; change for the better; «New slipcovers will help the old living room furniture» upgrade — to improve what was old or outdated; «I’ve upgraded my computer so I can run better software»; «The company upgraded their personnel» condition — put into a better state; «he conditions old cars» emend — make improvements or corrections to; «the text was emended in the second edition» enhance — make better or more attractive; «This sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat» reform — make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices; «reform a political system» reform — improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition; «reform the health system in this country» build — improve the cleansing action of; «build detergents» perfect, hone — make perfect or complete; «perfect your French in Paris!» fine-tune, refine, polish, down — improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; «refine one’s style of writing» distill, make pure, purify, sublimate — remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; «purify the water» fructify — make productive or fruitful; «The earth that he fructified» lift, raise — invigorate or heighten; «lift my spirits»; «lift his ego» advance — develop further; «We are advancing technology every day» upgrade — give better travel conditions to; «The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full» educate — give an education to; «We must educate our youngsters better» |
| 2. |  improve — get better; «The weather improved toward evening»
heal — get healthy again; «The wound is healing slowly» change state, turn — undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; «We turned from Socialism to Capitalism»; «The people turned against the President when he stole the election» see the light, straighten out, reform — change for the better; «The lazy student promised to reform»; «the habitual cheater finally saw the light» surge — see one’s performance improve; «He levelled the score and then surged ahead» turn around, pick up — improve significantly; go from bad to good; «Her performance in school picked up» heal, mend — heal or recover; «My broken leg is mending» fructify — become productive or fruitful; «The seeds fructified» upgrade — get better travel conditions; «I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
improve
verb
1. enhance, better, add to, upgrade, amend, mend, augment, embellish, touch up, ameliorate, polish up He improved their house.
enhance damage, harm, mar, worsen, impair
4. 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 (informal) He had improved so much the doctor cut his dosage.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
improve
verb
1. To advance to a more desirable state:
2. To regain one’s health:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
zlepšitvylepšit
forbedre
plibonigi
parantuaparantaa
poboljšati
javítjavulmegjavultökéletesít
bæta, laga
改善する
개선하다
pagerėjimaspatobulinimaspatobulinti
pilnveidotpilnveidotiesuzlabotuzlaboties
izboljšatiizboljšati se
förbättra (sig)förbättras
ทำให้ดีขึ้น
cải thiện
improve
[ɪmˈpruːv]
A. VT
2. (= favour) [+ appearance] → favorecer
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
improve
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
improve
(imˈpruːv) verb
to (cause to) become better, of higher quality etc. His work has greatly improved; They recently improved the design of that car.
imˈprovement noun
1. the state or act of improving or being improved. There has been a great improvement in her work; The patient’s condition shows some improvement.
2. something which improves, or adds beauty, value etc. I’ve made several improvements to the house.
improve on
to produce something which is better, more useful etc than. I think I can improve on that suggestion.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
improve
→ يُحَسِّنُ zlepšit (se) forbedre verbessern βελτιώνω mejorar parantua améliorer poboljšati migliorare 改善する 개선하다 verbeteren forbedre ulepszyć melhorar улучшать förbättra (sig) ทำให้ดีขึ้น geliştirmek cải thiện 改进
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
improve
v. mejorar; adelantar; mejorarse, recuperarse; restablecerse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
improve
vt mejorar; vi mejorarse, (patient) recuperarse
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other forms: improved; improving; improves
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.
Definitions of improve
-
“The editor
improved the manuscript with his changes”-
synonyms:
ameliorate, amend, better, meliorate
-
ameliorate, better, meliorate
get better
see moresee less-
Antonyms:
-
aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate, worsen
make worse
-
types:
- show 65 types…
- hide 65 types…
-
alleviate, assuage, palliate, relieve
provide physical relief, as from pain
-
aid, help
improve the condition of
-
regenerate, revitalize
restore strength
-
enrich
make better or improve in quality
-
build up, develop
change the use of and make available or usable
-
turn around
improve dramatically
-
help
improve; change for the better
-
upgrade
improve what was old or outdated
-
condition
put into a better state
-
emend
make improvements or corrections to
-
iron out, put right, straighten out
settle or put right
-
enhance
make better or more attractive
-
bushel, doctor, fix, furbish up, mend, repair, restore, touch on
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
-
reform
make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices
-
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
refine or make more perfect or effective
-
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
-
educate
give an education to
-
groom, neaten
care for one’s external appearance
-
curry, dress, groom
give a neat appearance to
-
soothe
cause to feel better
-
bring around, cure, heal
provide a cure for, make healthy again
-
comfort, ease
lessen pain or discomfort; alleviate
-
redevelop
change the plans for the use of (land)
-
fill out, round out
make bigger or better or more complete
-
optimise, optimize
make optimal; get the most out of; use best
-
choke, throttle
reduce the air supply
-
recondition
bring into an improved condition
-
follow up
increase the effectiveness or success of by further action
-
retouch, touch up
alter so as to produce a more desirable appearance
-
rejuvenate
make younger or more youthful
-
fiddle, tinker
try to fix or mend
-
fill
plug with a substance
-
patch, piece
repair by adding pieces
-
cobble
repair or mend
-
point, repoint
repair the joints of bricks
-
trouble-shoot, troubleshoot
solve problems
-
patch, patch up
mend by putting a patch on
-
dress up, window-dress
make something appear superficially attractive
-
slick up, smarten up, spiff up, spruce, spruce up, titivate, tittivate
make neat, smart, or trim
-
brush up, burnish, polish, polish up, round, round off
bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
-
over-refine, overrefine
refine too much or with excess of subtlety
-
rectify, refine
reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; separate from extraneous matter or cleanse from impurities
-
purge
rid of impurities
-
feed, fertilise, fertilize
provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to
-
resole, sole
put a new sole on
-
revamp, vamp
provide (a shoe) with a new vamp
-
heel, reheel
put a new heel on
-
settle
establish or develop as a residence
-
polish, shine, smooth, smoothen
make (a surface) shine
-
darn
repair by sewing
-
benefit, do good
be beneficial for
-
socialise, socialize
train for a social environment
-
groom, prepare, train
educate for a future role or function
-
co-educate, coeducate
educate persons of both sexes together
-
school
educate in or as if in a school
-
civilise, civilize, cultivate, educate, school, train
teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment
-
become, suit
enhance the appearance of
-
type of:
-
alter, change, modify
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
-
ameliorate, better, meliorate
-
“The weather
improved toward evening”-
synonyms:
ameliorate, better, meliorate
-
ameliorate, amend, better, meliorate
make better
see moresee less-
Antonyms:
-
decline, worsen
grow worse
-
types:
- show 14 types…
- hide 14 types…
-
convalesce, recover, recuperate
get over an illness or shock
-
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
-
gain vigor, percolate, perk, perk up, pick up
gain or regain energy
-
snap back
recover quickly
-
scab
form a scab
-
skin over
grow new skin over an injury
-
granulate
form granulating tissue
-
type of:
-
change state, turn
undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
-
ameliorate, amend, better, meliorate
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘improve’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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What do we mean by improve?
To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition; make better. intransitive verb
To increase the productivity or value of (land or property). intransitive verb
To become better. intransitive verb
To make beneficial additions or changes. intransitive verb
To disapprove; censure; blame.
To approve; prove; test.
To disprove; prove false; refute.
To make better; ameliorate the condition of; increase in value, excellence, capability, estimation, or the like; bring into a better, higher, more desirable, or more profitable state: as, to improve the mind by study; to improve the breeds of animals; to improve land by careful tillage.
To turn to advantage or account; use profitably; make use of: as, to improve an opportunity; to improve the occasion.
To increase in force or amount; intensify in any respect.
To grow better in any way; become more excellent or more favorable; advance in goodness, knowledge, wisdom, amount, value, etc.: as, his health is improving; the price of cotton improves daily.
To increase; grow.
To disprove or make void; to refute. transitive verb
To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure. transitive verb
To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation. transitive verb
To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize transitive verb
To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; — said with reference to what is bad. transitive verb
To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement. intransitive verb
To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. intransitive verb
To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value. intransitive verb
To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
To become better.
To disprove or make void; to refute.
To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
Short for improvisation, a comedy format in which the performers make up the scene on the spot Urban Dictionary
Improvisational theater, performances where the material is improvised on the spot while they already in progress. Urban Dictionary
When you ask the audience to say a place, but you just make up one yourself, and then you and your actor partner have to describe the scene and the actions you are participating in. Urban Dictionary
A rappers ability to write rhymes about anything from a stop sign to a license plate to playing basketball and not only making his verses rhyme, but make sense too. Urban Dictionary
A place or thing which can be improved, a person who is capable of improving themselves or is willing to listen to someone who wants to show them how to improve. Urban Dictionary
A person who is good at or constantly ‘improvises’ or ‘makes up’ words, phrases or stories on the spot in an interesting and effective fashion. Urban Dictionary
Generally used after making a ridiculously funny statement, causing even more laughter from your peers Urban Dictionary
A practically joke group based in New York, America. They pull of harmless stunts that they call missions. There acts include multiple actors called agents. The group was founded in 2001 by Charlie Todd and there slogan is «We Cause Scenes». They go out and pull pranks such as No Pants where people ride the subway with no trousers. Frozen Grand Central where 207 agents froze in the subway for 5 minuets then just carry on as normal. Ted’s Birthday when they chose a random stranger and threw him a Birthday Party in a New York bar. Anton Chekhov was another one where an agent pretended to be a famous Russian play write who died over a century ago, he did a reading and signed some books, people believed him. The Moebius was when a small group of agents gathered in Costa Coffee and replayed the same scene every 5 minuets for an hour. Best Buy was an occasion when a group of 80 agents came into a shop called Best Buy dressed exactly the same as the shop staff, if asked if they worked at the shop they would say no but they would answer questions for customers. They are a group designed to go out much like a flash mob and amuse commuters. Urban Dictionary
An ABC sitcom airing from 1991-1999 and one of the most cleverly written sitcoms of the decade. Comedian Tim Allen starred as Tim Taylor, a chauvinist, handyman husband and father of three mischeivous sons who hosted a Detroit cable tool show called Tool Time, and just could help himself to giving «more power» to machinery. Much of the show also focused on the of the rest of the Taylor family: Tim’s wife Jill is a feminist and aspiring psychologist, the loner and very astute neighbor Wilson Wilson always provides advice for Tim, and Tim’s sons are mischeivious but good kids. Tim is very masculine and chauvinist (he even gets disgusted at just the thought of going to the opera), a handyman, clumsy, loved to make jokes about Al’s flannel shirts and overweight mother, always rewiring gadgets, was always competing with his next door neighbor Doc Johnson for the neighborhood’s best Christmas lights, seeking advice from his other neighbor Wilson Wilson (Wilson Wilson is not a typo)
Spoofs from the show:
1. Tim’s frequent jokes about Al’s flannel shirst and overweight mom.
2. always seeking advice from his next door neighbor Wilson Wilson, only to screw it up
3. Wilson’s face is always hidden
4. always rewiring things to give it “more power”…only to have it explode
5. his wife Jill can’t cook
6. Tim has an obsession with Sears
7. always competes with Doc Johnson, a 80-year old retired proctologist, for the neighborhood’s best Christmas lights
8. Tim is so clumsy that he dropped a steel beam on his wife’s car, fell though a portapotty, glued his head to a table, had a hammer frozen to his tongue, fell through the roof on a project house, blew up a friend’s house and blew up the dishwasher
9. always building a hot rod in the garage
10. frequently grunts when exited or perplexed
11. Bob Villa is his biggest competition
12. Tim often hits his head on a basement pipe above the stairs
13. frequently made jokes about his mother-in-law “Nanna’s” weight but stopped when he saw how thin she had become
14. Always wants Tool Time to take a commercial break when he gets injured
15. Tim frequently gets sick eating Polish food from «Stan’s» Polish restaurant in Hamtramk
16. Tim is well-known at the emergency room, even to the point of having his own cup labeled “Tim”
17. Tim often wears sweatshirts from a Michigan college.
18. Tim’s three sons’ are always bullied by Vinny McGern Urban Dictionary
While having sex or simulated sex, as via a webcam, attempting to perform a fantasy or scenario. Urban Dictionary
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- Inflections of ‘improve‘ (v): (⇒ conjugate)
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- improves
- v 3rd person singular
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- improving
- v pres p
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- improved
- v past
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- improved
- v past p
WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023
im•prove /ɪmˈpruv/USA pronunciation
v., -proved, -prov•ing.
- to (cause to) become better: [~ + object]Exercise improves one’s health.[no object]His health seems to be improving.
- to increase the value of (real property) by remodeling or adding features:[~ + object]improved the property by remodeling the bathroom.
- improve on, [~ + object] to produce something better than:tried to improve on my previous supervisor’s work by adding to what she had started.
im•prov•a•ble, adj. See -prov-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023
im•prove
(im pro̅o̅v′),USA pronunciation v., -proved, -prov•ing.
v.t.
- to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition:He took vitamins to improve his health.
- to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
- to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.
- to make good use of;
turn to account:He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.
v.i.
- to increase in value, excellence, etc.;
become better:The military situation is improving. - 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.
- Late Latin prōde (est), by reanalysis of Latin prōdest (it) is beneficial, of use, with prōde taken as a neuter noun, nominal (compare proud); v by association with prove, approve
- 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
- late Middle English improuen, emprouen 1425–75
im•prov′a•ble, adj.
im•prov′a•bil′i•ty, im•prov′a•ble•ness, n.
im•prov′a•bly, adv.
im•prov′ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged amend, emend.
Improve, ameliorate, better imply bringing to a more desirable state.
Improve usually implies remedying a lack or a felt need:to improve a process, oneself(as by gaining more knowledge).
Ameliorate, a formal word, implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions:to ameliorate working conditions.To better is to improve conditions which, though not bad, are unsatisfying:to better an attempt, oneself( gain a higher salary).
- 1, 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged worsen.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
improve /ɪmˈpruːv/ vb
- to make or become better in quality; ameliorate
- (transitive) to make (buildings, land, etc) more valuable by additions or betterment
- (intr; usually followed by on or upon) to achieve a better standard or quality in comparison (with): to improve on last year’s crop
Etymology: 16th Century: 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-1 + esse to be
imˈprovable adj imˌprovaˈbility, imˈprovableness n imˈprovably adv imˈprover n imˈprovingly adv
‘improve‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):