improve
gb/ɪmpɹˈuv/ us/ɪmpɹˈuv/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Make something better
To make something good or better than before.
Usage pattern:
to improve [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'improve' with 'increase'; 'increase' means to make larger in number or amount, while 'improve' means to make better in quality.
Synonyms
enhance (Often suggests adding features or qualities to increase attractiveness or value.)
Antonyms
worsen (Means to make something worse in quality or condition.)
Collocations
improve skills
|improve quality
|improve performance
|improve health
|improve efficiency
Themes
daily life
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We need to improve our customer service to stay competitive.
- Regular exercise can improve your overall health.
- The company is working to improve the quality of its products.
- She took a course to improve her English.
- Technology has improved communication dramatically.
Learner examples
- I want to improve my English.
- He works hard to improve his grades.
- We must improve our plan.
- The teacher helps students improve their writing.
- They try to improve the garden every year.
Verb
A2
action
2
Become better
To get better than before.
Usage pattern:
[something] improves
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 'improve' transitively when the subject is the thing getting better itself (e.g., saying 'He improved his health' when they mean 'His health improved').
Synonyms
develop (Can imply gradual progress or growth, not always about quality.)
Antonyms
deteriorate (Means to become worse in quality or condition.)
Collocations
situation improves
|weather improves
|skills improve
|health improves
Themes
daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her health has improved since she started exercising regularly.
- The weather is expected to improve by the weekend.
- Sales have improved this quarter compared to last year.
- My cooking has improved over time.
- The situation is slowly improving.
Learner examples
- His English has improved a lot.
- The weather will improve soon.
- My health improved after I rested.
- Our team’s results improved this year.
- The road conditions improved after repairs.
Verb
formal
B1
action
3
Increase property value
To make a building or land better so it is worth more.
Usage pattern:
to improve [property/land/building]
Synonyms
renovate (Refers specifically to updating or repairing buildings.)
Antonyms
neglect (To fail to care for property, leading to decline in value.)
Collocations
improve land
|improve property
|improve facilities
Themes
real estate
|business
|housing
|finance
Examples
- They improved the old warehouse and turned it into offices.
- The city plans to improve the park with new playground equipment.
- Investors often improve properties before selling them for profit.
Learner examples
- We improved the house before selling it.
- The city will improve the school building.
- They improved the land for farming.
Grammar
Dictionary form
improve
IPA
GB/ɪmpɹˈuv/
US/ɪmpɹˈuv/
Syllables & stress
im - prove (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (prove)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: improve
- 3rd Person Singular: improves
- Present Participle: improving
- Past: improved
Word family
Forms
improves
verb
improving
verb
improved
verb
Core family
improvement
noun A2
Advanced or less common
improvable
adjective
Expressions
improve by leaps and bounds
1/ɪmpɹˈuv bˈaɪ lˈips ˈænd bˈaʊndz/
idiom
informal
Improve very quickly and a lot
To get much better very fast.
Examples
- Her Spanish has improved by leaps and bounds since she moved to Madrid.
- The technology in smartphones has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years.
improve on/upon something
1/ɪmpɹˈuv ənəpən sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Make something better than before
To make something that is better than what existed before.
Examples
- The new design improves on last year’s model.
- She hopes to improve upon her previous performance in the race.
room for improvement
1/ɹˈum fɚ ɪmpɹˈuvmənt/
fixed phrase
Chance to become better
A way to say something can be better than it is now.
Examples
- Your work is good, but there’s still room for improvement.
- Your essay is good, but there’s still room for improvement.
- Your work is good, but there's still room for improvement.
- The report was fine, but there’s always room for improvement.
- Even the best players have room for improvement.
- The hotel was nice, but there was room for improvement in the service.