Nearby Words
UCB Theatre NY newyork.ucbtheatre.com NYC's best improv & sketch comedy Great comedy, cheap beer
Dictionary.com Free Toolbar Dictionary.com Define Improve Instantly. Faster Page Loads With Fewer Ads.
Ads
verb (used with object)
1.
to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition: He took vitamins to improve his health.
2.
to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
3.
to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.
4.
to make good use of; turn to account: He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.
verb (used without object)
5.
to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better: The military situation is improving.
6.
to make improvements, as by revision, addition, or change: None of the younger violinists have been able to improve on his interpretation of that work.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Improve
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English improuen, emprouen < Anglo-French emprouer to turn (something) into profit, derivative of phrase en prou into profit, equivalent to en (see en-1) + prou, Old French prou, preu < Late Latin prōde (est), by reanalysis of Latin prōdest (it) is beneficial, of use, with prōde taken as a neuter noun (compare proud); v by association with prove, approve
1425–75; late Middle English improuen, emprouen < Anglo-French emprouer to turn (something) into profit, derivative of phrase en prou into profit, equivalent to en (see en-1) + prou, Old French prou, preu < Late Latin prōde (est), by reanalysis of Latin prōdest (it) is beneficial, of use, with prōde taken as a neuter noun (compare proud); v by association with prove, approve
Related forms
im·prov·a·ble, adjective
im·prov·a·bil·i·ty, im·prov·a·ble·ness, noun
im·prov·a·bly, adverb
im·prov·ing·ly, adverb
pre·im·prove, verb (used with object), -proved, -prov·ing.
EXPANDSynonyms
1. amend, emend. Improve, ameliorate, better imply bringing to a more desirable state. Improve usually implies remedying a lack or a felt need: to improve a process, oneself (as by gaining more knowledge). Ameliorate, a formal word, implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions: to ameliorate working conditions. To better is to improve conditions which, though not bad, are unsatisfying: to better an attempt, oneself (gain a higher salary).
1. amend, emend. Improve, ameliorate, better imply bringing to a more desirable state. Improve usually implies remedying a lack or a felt need: to improve a process, oneself (as by gaining more knowledge). Ameliorate, a formal word, implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions: to ameliorate working conditions. To better is to improve conditions which, though not bad, are unsatisfying: to better an attempt, oneself (gain a higher salary).
Antonyms
1, 5. worsen.
1, 5. worsen.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Improve
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
improve
late 15c., "to use to one's profit," from Anglo-Fr. emprouwer "to turn to profit" (late 13c.), from O.Fr. en-, causative prefix, + prou "profit," from L. prode "advantageous" (see proud). Meaning "to raise to a better quality or condition" first recorded 1610s. Phrase improve
EXPANDthe occasion retains the etymological sense. Meaning "to turn land to profit" (by clearing it, erecting buildings, etc.) was in Anglo-Fr. (13c.) and was retained in the American colonies.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.