Improve - English meaning

verb

Move forwards in a purposeful way.

Usage examples:

He advanced towards the dispatch box

noun

A forward movement.

Usage examples:

The rebels' advance on madrid was well under way

adjective

Done, sent, or supplied beforehand.

Usage examples:

Advance notice

verb

Make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

Usage examples:

The reform did much to ameliorate living standards

verb

To make a bad or unpleasant situation better

Usage examples:

Foreign aid is badly needed to ameliorate the effects of the drought.

adjective

More desirable, satisfactory, or effective.

Usage examples:

We're hoping for better weather tomorrow

adverb

More excellently or effectively.

Usage examples:

Jonathon could do better if he tried

noun

The better one; that which is better.

Usage examples:

The natural history museum book is by far the better of the two

verb

Help or encourage (something) to increase or improve.

Usage examples:

A range of measures to boost tourism

noun

A source of help or encouragement leading to increase or improvement.

Usage examples:

The cut in interest rates will give a further boost to the economy

phrasal verb

Be based on; of theories and claims, for example

phrasal verb

To develop something that was started in the past or created by someone else

Usage examples:

The study builds on research by the nation's leading geneticists., she built her success on years o…

phrasal verb

To use a success or achievement as a base from which to achieve more success

Usage examples:

We must build on our reputation to expand the business., a good relationship is built on trust.

abbreviation

(in genealogies) daughter.

Usage examples:

Henry m. georgina 1957, 1s 2d

contraction

Had.

Usage examples:

They'd already gone

noun

The fourth letter of the alphabet.

Usage examples:

Each half resembles a uppercase letter d, so the two parts of the cyclotron are known as dees.

verb

Intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.

Usage examples:

His refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation

Increase

verb

To improve the quality, amount, or strength of something

Usage examples:

The marinade enhances the flavor of the fish., the county took steps to enhance water quality., [ c…

verb

Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources.

Usage examples:

They helped her with domestic chores

noun

The action of helping someone to do something.

Usage examples:

I asked for help from my neighbours

exclamation

Used as an appeal for urgent assistance.

Usage examples:

Help! i'm drowning!

verb

Another term for ameliorate.

phrasal verb

To improve or become more exciting

Usage examples:

Prices perked up slightly before the close of trading.

phrasal verb

To make something more interesting or exciting, or to become this way

Usage examples:

The city is trying to perk up the business district by planting trees., she perked up considerably …

phrasal verb

To become or cause something to become higher in value or more active

Usage examples:

Share prices have perked up., the overall good news failed to perk up the stock market.

phrasal verb

To improve something

Usage examples:

I write a rough draft on the computer and then polish it up a bit.

noun

Forward or onward movement towards a destination.

Usage examples:

The darkness did not stop my progress

verb

Move forward or onward in space or time.

Usage examples:

As the century progressed the quality of telescopes improved

noun

Movement toward an improved or more developed state, or to a forward position

Usage examples:

The talks failed to make any progress toward a settlement., the construction work is already in pro…

verb

Lift or move to a higher position or level.

Usage examples:

She raised both arms above her head

noun

An increase in salary.

Usage examples:

He wants a raise and some perks

verb

Move upwards

verb

Remove impurities or unwanted elements from (a substance), typically as part of an industrial process.

Usage examples:

Sugar was refined by boiling it in huge iron vats

verb

To make a substance pure by removing unwanted material

Usage examples:

Sugar and oil are refined before use., we haven’t finished refining the plan yet.

verb

To improve something or to make it pure, especially by removing material that is not wanted

Usage examples:

Crude oil is industrially refined to purify it., engineers spent many months refining the software.

verb

Give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to.

Usage examples:

An attempt to revamp the museum's image

noun

An act of improving the form, structure, or appearance of something.

Usage examples:

The brand was given a $1 million revamp

verb

To change something, or to make or arrange something differently, in order to improve it

Usage examples:

This country’s health care system needs revamping.

verb

Twist or pull (something) sharply.

Usage examples:

He tweaked the boy's ear

noun

A sharp twist or pull.

Usage examples:

An affectionate tweak

verb

To change slightly, esp. in order to make something more effective or correct

Usage examples:

Writers and producers kept tweaking the script even as the movie was being shot., he jumped when sh…

verb

Raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components.

Usage examples:

The cost of upgrading each workstation is around £300

noun

An act of upgrading something.

Usage examples:

A room upgrade from a twin to a duplex suite

verb

To improve the quality or usefulness of something, or to raise something or someone to a higher position or rank

Usage examples:

If you want to raise rents, you have to upgrade the housing first., they’re spending more than $4 m…