reform
/reform/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- An improvement or change made to a system, law, or organization to make it better or more just: "Reform" refers to the process or result of making changes to correct faults, remove injustices, or improve conditions.
- A personal change for the better in behavior or morals: "Reform" can also describe an individual's abandonment of bad habits or wrongdoings to adopt a better way of life.
Verb:
- To make changes in something to improve it or correct it: This involves altering a system, law, or practice to remove abuses or defects.
- To cause someone to stop behaving in a wrong or criminal way and live a better life: This means to persuade or help someone to abandon bad habits or immoral conduct.
- (Chemistry) To break down a complex substance into simpler ones, or to reorganize its molecular structure: This is a technical use of the word in science and industry.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The government introduced a series of economic reforms.
- His reform from a life of crime was an inspiration to others.
- The reform of the education system was long overdue.
Verb:
- The new leader vowed to reform the corrupt tax system.
- After his arrest, he promised to reform and become a better person.
- The chemical process is used to reform crude oil into gasoline.
Advanced Usage
- "To be in need of reform": to require change or improvement.
- The outdated law is clearly in need of reform.
- "A reforming zeal": a strong, enthusiastic desire to make improvements.
- She tackled the project with a reforming zeal.
Variants and Related Words
- Reformer (n): a person who advocates or works for change and improvement.
- She was a famous social reformer.
- Reformation (n): the action or process of reforming an institution or practice. (Often capitalized: , referring to the 16th-century religious movement).
- The reformation of the prison system is a complex task.
- Reformative (adj): intended to produce reform.
- The program has a reformative purpose.
- Reformatory (n/adj): (as a noun) an institution for reforming young offenders; (as an adjective) having the purpose of reform.
- He was sent to a reformatory for juveniles.
Synonyms
- Improvement: a change for the better.
- Amendment: a minor change or addition designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc.
- Rehabilitation: the action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy.
- Correction: a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Reform" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed as a standalone verb.)
Related Idioms
- "To mend one's ways": This idiom is a close synonym for the personal meaning of "to reform," meaning to improve one's behavior or habits.
- After the warning, he finally decided to mend his ways.
Noun
- self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice
- the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform
- a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices
- the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians
- a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses
- justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts
Verb
- change for the better
- The lazy student promised to reform
- the habitual cheater finally saw the light
- improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition
- reform the health system in this country
- break up the molecules of
- reform oil
- produce by cracking
- reform gas
- bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one
- The Church reformed me
- reform your conduct
- make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices
- reform a political system