improve

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