improve

verb

im·​prove im-ˈprüv 

improved; improving

transitive verb

1

a

: to enhance in value or quality : make better

improved sales

a treatment to improve the patient's chances of survival

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

their test scores improved

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

see also:

improve on

Synonyms of improve

• enhance
• help

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

Examples of improve in a Sentence

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

Given with the cancer drug Keytruda after surgery, the treatment significantly improved the time patients remained free of recurrence and distant spread compared with Keytruda alone. — Sally C. Pipes, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

Queen Camilla’s image has improved greatly in the last few years. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2026

Topdressing is applied to improve or change the quality of the soil, or to level the lawn when low spots are present. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Clinically proven to improve skin density, hydration, and elasticity, this lightweight yet potent serum is designed to target visible signs of aging. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

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

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Phrases Containing improve

• improve on
• improve upon

Rhymes for improve

• approve
• disprove
• remove
• reprove
• disapprove
• groove
• move
• prove

Kids Definition

improve

verb

im·​prove im-ˈprüv 

improved; improving

1

: to make or become better

genetics helps us improve plants

when economic conditions improve

2

: to increase the value of (land or property) by making improvements

3

: to make good use of

improved their time by studying German

4

: to make useful additions or changes

improvable

-ˈprü-və-bəl 

adjective

improver noun