How to Use 'Improve' - Meaning & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：make better (improve)

improve 🔊

/ɪmˈpruːv/

to make something better than it was before, or to get better at doing something.

Illustration of improve meaning: student progress from confusion to confidence solving problems.

make better 🔊

➕

/meɪk ˈbetər/

To enhance the quality, condition, or performance of something, or to develop one's own abilities.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'in-' (into) and Anglo-French 'prou' (profit), evolving to mean make better.

💡 Mnemonic

Pro + Move: Progressively move forward to improve.

📖 Example

She practices speaking English for 10 minutes every day to improve her pronunciation. 🔊 She practices speaking English for 10 minutes every day to improve her pronunciation.

🔗 Collocations

improve skills – to enhance one's abilities or competencies

improve performance – to make something function more effectively or efficiently

improve health – to make one's physical or mental condition better

🔄 Synonyms

enhance (v.) – to increase or improve the quality, value, or extent of something

better (v.) – to make something more satisfactory or of higher quality

upgrade (v.) – to raise something to a higher standard or level

🚫 Antonyms

worsen (v.) – to make or become worse in condition or quality

deteriorate (v.) – to become progressively worse or decline in quality

🌱 Derivatives

improvement (n.) – the act of making something better or the state of being better

improving (adj.) – tending to make better or more satisfactory

📖 Cultural Story

From Anglo-French 'emprouwer' (to profit), 'improve' evolved in English to signify making things better.