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improve

 
Dictionary: im·prove   (ĭm-prūv') pronunciation

v., -proved, -prov·ing, -proves.

v.tr.
  1. To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition; make better.
  2. To increase the productivity or value of (land or property).
  3. To put to good use; use profitably.
v.intr.
  1. To become better.
  2. To make beneficial additions or changes: improve on the translation.

[Middle English improwen, to enclose land for cultivation, from Anglo-Norman emprouwer, to turn to profit : Old French en-, causative pref. (from Latin in-; see in-2) + Old French prou, profit (from Late Latin prōde, advantageous; see proud).]

improvable im·prov'a·ble adj.
improvably im·prov'a·bly adv.

SYNONYMS   improve, better, help, ameliorate. These verbs mean to advance to a more desirable, valuable, or excellent state. Improve and better, the most general terms, are often interchangeable: You can improveyour mind through study; I got a haircut to improvemy appearance. Help usually implies limited relief or change: Gargling helps a sore throat. To ameliorate is to improve circumstances that demand change: Volunteers were able to ameliorate conditions in the refugee camp.


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Thesaurus: improve
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verb

  1. To advance to a more desirable state: ameliorate, amend, better1, help, meliorate, upgrade. See help/harm/harmless.
  2. To regain one's health: come around (or round), convalesce, gain, mend, perk up, rally, recover, recuperate. See health/sickness.

Antonyms: improve
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v

Definition: make or become better
Antonyms: damage, decline, decrease, diminish, harm, hurt, impair, injure, weaken, worsen


Word Tutor: improve
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: To make or become better.

pronunciation To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. — Winston Churchill, British prime minister during World War II.

Translations: Improve
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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - forbedre, udvikle, udbygge, forskønne, forædle, stige i kurs
v. intr. - forbedres, udvikle sig

Nederlands (Dutch)
verbeteren, vooruitgaan, opknappen, veredelen

Français (French)
v. tr. - augmenter (des salaires), améliorer, (Archit, Constr) aménager, (Agric) amender, accroître (le rendement)
v. intr. - s'améliorer, améliorer (un score), renchérir sur, augmenter (la productivité), (Agric) augmenter (le rendement)

Deutsch (German)
v. - (sich) verbessern, verfeinern, erhöhen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - βελτιώνω/-ομαι, καλυτερεύω

Italiano (Italian)
avanzare, perfezionare, migliorare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - melhorar

Русский (Russian)
улучшать, воспользоваться

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - progresar, adelantar, avanzar, perfeccionar, mejorar, aumentar, cultivar, embellecer, corregir
v. intr. - mejorar, mejorarse, adelantar, progresar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - förbättra(s), utnyttja, repa sig (efter sjukdom), stiga (om pris)

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
改良, 利用, 改善, 变得更好, 增加, 提高

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 改良, 利用, 改善
v. intr. - 改善, 變得更好, 增加, 提高

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 개량하다, 좋게 하다, 이용하다
v. intr. - 좋아지다, 향상되다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 改善する, 向上させる, 十分利用する, よくなる, 好転する, 進歩する, 改良する, 活用する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يتحسن, يحسن‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮שיפר, השביח, העלה ערכו, ניצל, גידל‬
v. intr. - ‮השתפר, השביח‬


 
 
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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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