# improve

Pronunciation: say "im-PROOV" /ɪmˈpɹuːv/

## Verb

1. To make something better, or to increase its value or productivity.
   - Simple: To make something better, or more useful or valuable.
   - _The new manager improved efficiency across the whole department._
   - _Regular practice can improve your performance dramatically._
2. To become better in quality, condition, or ability.
   - Simple: To get better, stronger, or more skilled over time.
   - _The weather improved as the afternoon went on._
   - _Sales continued to improve throughout the quarter._
3. To surpass an earlier effort, result, or version by producing something better; followed by "on" or "upon".
   - Simple: To do better than an earlier try, result, or version, used with "on".
   - _She hopes to improve on her personal best at this weekend's race._
   - _Critics agreed that the sequel had improved upon the original in almost every way._

## Verb

4. To make good or profitable use of something, such as an opportunity or a period of time. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To make good use of something for benefit or profit.
5. To disapprove of someone or something; to find fault with, reprove, or censure. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To disapprove of someone or something, or find fault with them.
6. To disprove a claim or make it void; to refute it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To prove that something is false or not true.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–4** — Vulgar Latin prode ('advantageous, profitable') gave Old French prou ('profit'); with the prefix en- this became Anglo-Norman emprouwer, the source of the English word.
**Meanings 5–6** — From Latin improbō ('disapprove, reject'). It is a doublet of improbate.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/improve (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).