improve

verb

(transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).

(intransitive) To become better.

(dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.

(obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.

(obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.

Roots

prodestprov- · Latin · profit, benefit

Synonyms for improve

amelioratev betteradj melioratev enhancev amendv strengthenv increasen modernizev revampv reshapev boostv rectifyv refinev elevatev emendv worsenv enrichv

Synonyms & related words for improve

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of improve — including ameliorate, better, meliorate, enhance, amend, strengthen. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to improve

Explore words related to improve — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include improvement, ameliorator, betterment, optimize, amelioration, ameliorative, improver, augment. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for improve

Common synonyms for improve include ameliorate, better, meliorate, enhance, amend, strengthen, increase, modernize — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does improve come from?

The word improve breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root prov-, from Latin prodest (“profit, benefit”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.