self-improvement

noun

self-im·​prove·​ment ˌself-im-ˈprüv-mənt 

plural self-improvements

: the act or process of improving oneself by one's own actions

individuals interested in self-improvement

opportunities for self-improvement

also : an instance or result of such improvement

You don't need to wait to ring in the new year to start making self-improvements, because it's always a good time.

—Nicole Yi

—often used before another noun

self-improvement efforts

a self-improvement blog

Examples of self-improvement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some analysts warn of a pathway called recursive self-improvement, in which AI becomes increasingly effective at training itself, eliciting a cycle of rapid advancement. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Both have begun to use their most sophisticated models to train the next generation, in a process known as recursive self-improvement. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Those capabilities include autonomous self-improvement, attempts to evade oversight, and certain forms of unauthorized system access. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

This natural inversion destroys leadership, fractures relationships and halts self-improvement. — Brendan Keegan, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-improvement

• improvement
• movement

Kids Definition

self-improvement

noun

self-im·​prove·​ment

ˌsel-ˌfim-ˈprüv-mənt

: improvement of oneself by one's own actions