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

Phrases

improve on or improve upon

: to do better than

It's hard to improve on last year's record.

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

Advertisement Living from a posture of thankfulness improves sleep, stabilizes emotions, sharpens memory, and can even add years to your life. —Dr. Daniel Amen, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

Others do it on purpose, hoping to lose weight or boost their health by improving things like blood sugar control. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 26 Nov. 2025

The robotic head demonstration was created to show how advanced sensing and AI integration can improve real-time robotic perception. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Nov. 2025

The team also improved to 46-34 in AP top-25 showdowns under coach Rick Barnes, including 39-28 with both in the top 20. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025

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 on/upon
• 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