improvement
ihm-PROOV-muhnt
Improvement (noun) means a change that makes something better, or the process of becoming better. Example: “There's been a real improvement in his attitude lately.”
noun
1
A change that makes something better, or the process of becoming better.
"There's been a real improvement in his attitude lately."
"The team made several improvements to the app based on user feedback."
"After a month of daily practice, I can see a big improvement in my handwriting."
How to use improvement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA change for the better, or the act of making something better.
Common pairings
show improvement
home improvement
room for improvement
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Word forms
- Plural
- improvements
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There's been a real _____ in his attitude lately.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman emprouwement; equivalent to improve + -ment.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for improvement
cement
element
clement
movement
pavement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
See all rhymes for improvement →
Frequently asked questions
What does “improvement” mean?
The word “improvement” means a change that makes something better, or the process of becoming better. In plain terms, a change for the better, or the act of making something better.
How do you pronounce “improvement”?
“Improvement” is pronounced ihm-PROOV-muhnt (/ɪmˈpɹuːvmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “improvement” in a sentence?
Here is “improvement” used in a sentence: “There's been a real improvement in his attitude lately.”
What is another word for “improvement”?
Words with a similar meaning to “improvement” include improval and amelioration.
What is the opposite of “improvement”?
The opposite of “improvement” — its antonyms — are worsening, deterioration and disimprovement.
What part of speech is “improvement”?
“Improvement” is a noun.
Where does the word “improvement” come from?
The word “improvement” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman emprouwement; equivalent to improve + -ment.
Is “improvement” a common word?
“Improvement” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between improvement and development?
Development is growth or change over time, which can be neutral — simply becoming larger or more advanced. Improvement always means change for the better. A development might make something bigger yet worse, while an improvement, by definition, makes it better than it was before.
What is an example of an improvement?
Fixing a slow website so it loads faster is an improvement. So is a student's grade rising from a C to an A, or a renovation that adds a new room. Anything that leaves something better than it was — in quality, condition or performance — counts as an improvement.
What is continuous improvement?
Continuous improvement is the practice of making many small, ongoing changes for the better rather than one big overhaul. Widely used in business and manufacturing, it assumes that any process can always be refined a little further, and that steady small gains add up over time.
What is the opposite of improvement?
The opposites describe change for the worse — decline, deterioration, worsening or regression. If an improvement makes something better, deterioration makes it worse. A setback is a smaller, temporary step backward after a period of progress.
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