improvement

noun

im-ˈprüv-mənt How to pronounce improvement (audio)
Definition of improvementnext
as in advance
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill there's been a great improvement in your handwriting—I can actually read it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of improvement The hives weren’t gone, but there was a dramatic improvement. — Talia Lewis-Cole, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2026 Intel's foundry business continued to show improvement, with revenue increasing 16% sequentially. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 Fractional lasers have also shown promise, with research suggesting improvements in fiber organization and the appearance of finer, healthier fiber, Vico says. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 Mecklenburg County voters approved a 1% sales tax increase last year to support road and transit improvements. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for improvement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvement
  1. advance
  2. advancement
  3. enhancement
  4. breakthrough
  5. development
Noun
  • The order blocks the government from removing additional trees and compels advance notice before the government irreversibly alters more of the course.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Financial and coding advances Financial research represents another major application for Hy4.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of advance
Noun
  • Announced in September, Daimler Truck's newest safety advancements include Active Cross Traffic Assist, Active Sideguard Assist 3, and improvements to its Active Drive Assist system.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The successful demonstration represents more than an advancement in drone technology.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of advancement
Noun
  • Last year, the city stopped repaving streets for eight months as officials struggled with staffing shortages to meet federal requirements to construct curb ramps for wheelchairs and new city rules that mandate bike, bus and pedestrian enhancements.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • By the late nineteenth century, the name Bell and the practice of elocution—the professional enhancement of the voice—had become close to synonymous.
    — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of enhancement
Noun
  • For Scott, a breakthrough that genuinely enables new elastin synthesis — and ensures it is properly organized within the skin — is more likely to emerge from aesthetic medicine than conventional skincare.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Mike Flanagan has established himself as one of the leading voices in horror, and his adaptation of King's 1992 novel Gerald's Game was a breakthrough hit.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of breakthrough
Noun
  • Fraga added that her administration remains focused on fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic development and delivering effective, accountable government.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Cardenas is a leadership coach and organizational development consultant who lives in Fort Worth.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of development

Browse Nearby Words

improved
improvement
improvements
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Improvement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvement. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abandon

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All