Etimology
From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).
verb
improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)
(transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
(intransitive) To become better.
(obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
(obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
(dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
Examples
Painting the woodwork will improve this house.
Buying more servers would improve performance.
Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.
I have improved since taking the tablets.
The error messages have improved since the last version, when they were incomprehensible.
“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
One ſayth thys and a nother that, but can not agre. Nether cã any of them make ſo ſtrong a reaſon vvhych a nother can not improue.
[…] when he reherſed his preachinge and his doynges vnto the hye Apoſtles / they coulde improve no thinge […]
You would improve his negligence, too oft to ease retir’d: […]The spelling has been modernized.
The spelling has been modernized.
to improve one's time; to improve his means
We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us
[A] hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved […]The spelling has been modernized.
The spelling has been modernized.
How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.
[T]he court has alſo an opportunity, which it ſeldom fails to improve, […]
True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.
Related words
synonyms
(to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve
antonyms
(antonym(s) of "to make something worse"): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
(antonym(s) of "to become worse"): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen