English Explanatory Dictionary

improve

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
  2. To become better.
  3. To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
verb
  1. To disprove or make void; to refute.
  2. To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.

Pronunciation

/ɪmˈpɹuːv/ en-us-improve.ogg

Word forms

improve improves improving improved emprove

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Synonyms

better batten enhance aprimorate (non-native speakers’ English (chiefly Portuguese)) amend hone improve meliorate refine get better look up ameliorate

Antonyms

deteriorate worsen aggravate make matters worse pejorate

Related words

repair empower

Derived words

disimprove improvability improvable improvement improve on improver improve the occasion improve upon improving improving agent improving lease misimprove on the improve reimprove self-improve
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on I Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary