Improve Meaning
/ɪmˈpɹuːv/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
verbTo become better.
Sentence Examples
Try to speak English as often as possible if you want to improve your English.
Try to improve your English.
The aim was to improve the coordination of services.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher gave extra homework to help the students ____ their math skills significantly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She decided to take an evening class to ____ her technical skills and advance in her career.
Word Origin & History
From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
"“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.”"
— 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 41:
"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. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
"[A] hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved […]"
— 1711 July 17 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, July 7, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 111; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 96:
"How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour."
— 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher gave extra homework to help the students ____ their math skills significantly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She decided to take an evening class to ____ her technical skills and advance in her career.