improve
/im'pru:v/
Definition
Verb (Transitive):
- To make something better in quality, condition, or value. It involves enhancing or amending something to a more desirable state.
- To increase the value or productivity of something, such as land or property.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To become better in quality, condition, or value. It refers to a state of getting better or making progress.
Examples of Usage
Transitive Verb:
- The company invested in new software to improve its efficiency.
- He took a course to improve his public speaking skills.
- The architect improved the original design by adding more natural light.
Intransitive Verb:
- Her health began to improve after she started the new treatment.
- Relations between the two countries have improved significantly this year.
- My tennis game is slowly improving with practice.
Advanced Usage
"Improve on/upon something": To produce or achieve something of a better standard or quality than something else.
- The sequel improved upon the original film in every way.
- It's hard to improve on perfection.
"Improve oneself": To work on developing one's own skills, knowledge, or character.
- She is always reading and taking classes to improve herself.
Variants and Related Words
Improvement (noun): The act of improving or the state of being improved; an addition or change that makes something better.
- The new road system is a great improvement for the city.
Improver (noun): A person or thing that improves something.
- This tool is a great time-improver.
Synonyms
- Enhance: To intensify or increase the quality, value, or extent of something.
- Ameliorate: A more formal term meaning to make something bad or unsatisfactory better.
- Upgrade: To raise something to a higher standard, often involving new technology or equipment.
- Refine: To improve something by making small changes, especially to make it more polished or precise.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Improve on/upon: As detailed in 'Advanced Usage', to do or make something better than before.
- Can you improve on your previous score?
Related Idioms
"Improve the shining hour": To make good use of one's time; to use time productively.
- While waiting for the meeting, he improved the shining hour by reviewing his notes.
"Improve each moment": Similar to the above, emphasizing the productive use of every moment.
- A true scholar seeks to improve each moment.
Verb
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get better
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The weather improved toward evening
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to make better
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The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
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