improve
The weather has improved.
to make something better
The weather has improved.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
improve
verb (improves, improving, improved )
to become better or to make something better:
Your English has improved a lot this year.
You must improve your spelling.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
improve
im‧prove S2 W1 /ɪmˈpruːv/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: verb: ↑improve; noun: ↑improvement; adjective: ↑improved]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: emprowe 'to improve' (15-16 centuries), from Anglo-French emprouer 'to make a profit', from Old French prou 'advantage, profit'; probably influenced by approve]
[intransitive and transitive] to make something better, or to become better:
a course for students wishing to improve their English
The doctors say she is improving (=after being ill).
You could use the money for improving your home.
Many wines improve with age (=get better as they get older).
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In everyday English, people often say something gets better rather than improves:
▪ Her English is definitely getting better.
▪ I hope things get better soon.
improve on/upon something phrasal verb
to do something better than before or make something better than before:
Bertorelli has scored 165 points, and I don’t think anyone will improve on that.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
improve
im·prove [improve improves improved improving] [ɪmˈpruːv] [ɪmˈpruːv] verb intransitive, transitive
to become better than before; to make sth/sb better than before
• His quality of life has improved dramatically since the operation.
• The doctor says she should continue to improve (= after an illness).
• I hope my French will improve when I go to France.
• ~ sth to improve standards
• The company needs to improve performance in all these areas.
• I need to improve my French.
Derived: improve on something
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
early 16th cent. (as emprowe or improwe): from Anglo-Norman French emprower (based on Old French prou ‘profit’, ultimately from Latin prodest ‘is of advantage’); -owe was changed to -ove under the influence of prove. The original sense was ‘make a profit, increase the value of’; subsequently ‘make greater in amount or degree’.
Thesaurus:
improve verb
1. T
• The graphics on the website have been greatly improved.
reform • • refine • • enhance • |written enrich •
formal Opp: impair
improve/refine/enhance/enrich your understanding
improve/refine/enhance your knowledge
improve/enhance/enrich your life
2. I
• His quality of life improved after the operation.
pick up • • advance • • progress • • develop • • get better • |informal look up • • come along/on •
Opp: worsen, Opp: deteriorate
start/begin/continue to improve/pick up/advance/progress/develop/get better/look up
fail to improve/advance/progress/get better
improve/pick up/advance/progress/develop/get better slowly/gradually/slightly/dramatically
Example Bank:
• The situation has improved dramatically during the last few months.
• The weather should continue to improve over the weekend.
• They are trying to improve the working conditionsin their factories.
• This legislation will vastly improve the quality of life of New Zealanders.
• We now offer a much improved service to our customers.
• Workers need to be given an incentive to improve their performance.
• Working and living conditions have generally improved.
• measures aimed at improving government efficiency
• the new and improved version of the website
• trying to improve their working conditions
• Bringing the issue of pay into the debate did not improve matters.
• My father's mood had noticeably improved during the afternoon.
• The company has greatly improved its performance over the past few years.
• The doctor says she should continue to improve.
• The economy had improved markedly.
• There have been renewed attempts to improve conditions for younger prisoners.
• They're introducing a vastly improved public transport system.
• We expect the situation to improve slightly.
• You can significantly improve your chances of getting a job by compiling a good
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
improve / ɪmˈpruːv / verb [ I or T ]
A2 to (cause something to) get better:
He did a lot to improve conditions for factory workers.
I thought the best way to improve my French was to live in France.
Her health has improved dramatically since she started on this new diet.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
improve
[ɪmpru͟ːv]
♦♦
improves, improving, improved
1) V-ERG If something improves or if you improve it, it gets better.
Within a month, both the texture and condition of your hair should improve...
The weather is beginning to improve...
[V n] Time won't improve the situation...
[V n] He improved their house.
2) V-ERG If a skill you have improves or you improve a skill, you get better at it.
Their French has improved enormously...
[V n] He said he was going to improve his football.
3) VERB If you improve after an illness or an injury, your health gets better or you get stronger.
He had improved so much the doctor had cut his dosage.
Syn:
recover
4) VERB If you improve on a previous achievement of your own or of someone else, you achieve a better standard or result.
[V on n] We need to improve on our performance against France.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
improve
im·prove /ɪmˈpruːv/ verb -proves; -proved; -prov·ing
1 [+ obj] : to make (something) better
• This operation will greatly/dramatically/significantly improve her chances of survival.
• The advertising campaign has improved sales.
2 [no obj] : to become better
• Maybe we'll buy a house when our financial situation improves.
• Her writing has improved since the beginning of the school year.
• The company has been having steadily improving sales.
improve on/upon [phrasal verb] improve on/upon (something) : to do better than (something previously done)
• After months of study, I improved on my original score.
• It'll be hard to improve upon the success they had last year.
- improved adj [more ~; most ~]
• The campaign resulted in greatly improved sales.
• She was voted the most improved player on the team.
