improvement

/ɪmˈpruvmənt/

/ɪmˈpruvmənt/

Other forms: improvements

When there's improvement, something is getting better. Going from a C to an A in math is an improvement.

If you want to improve something, you've got to make improvements. Lots of people strive for personal improvement: maybe it's losing a few pounds for an improvement in their appearance, or reading more for an improvement in intelligence. Businesses look for improvement in customer service or profitability. Any change for the better or step in the right direction is an improvement.

Definitions of improvement

1. noun

   the act of improving something
   “their improvements increased the value of the property”

   types:

   tenderisation, tenderization

   the act of making meat tender by pounding or marinating it

   development

   the act of improving by expanding, enlarging, or refining

   cleaning, cleansing, cleanup

   the act of making something clean

   correction, rectification

   the act of offering an improvement to replace a mistake; setting right

   optimisation, optimization

   the act of rendering optimal

   perfection

   the act of making something perfect

   reform

   a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses

   amelioration, betterment, melioration

   the act of relieving ills and changing for the better

   self-improvement, self-reformation

   the act of improving yourself

   clarification, clearing

   the act of removing solid particles from a liquid

   enrichment

   act of making fuller or more meaningful or rewarding

   humanisation, humanization

   the act of making more human

   modernisation, modernization

   making modern in appearance or behavior

   overhaul, redevelopment, renovation

   the act of improving by renewing and restoring

   enhancement, sweetening

   an improvement that makes something more agreeable

   upturn

   an upward movement or trend as in business activity

   airing, ventilation

   the act of supplying fresh air and getting rid of foul air

   fix, fixing, fixture, mend, mending, repair, reparation

   the act of putting something in working order again

   stabilisation, stabilization

   the act of making something (as a vessel or aircraft) less likely to overturn

   upgrade

   the act of improving something (especially machinery) by raising it to a higher grade (as by adding or replacing components)

   auto-suggestion, autosuggestion, self-suggestion

   a system for self-improvement developed by Emile Coue which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s

   advancement, progress

   gradual improvement or growth or development

   broadening

   the action of making broader

   elaboration, working out

   developing in intricate and painstaking detail

   product development

   improving an existing product or developing new kinds of products

   disinfestation

   the activity of getting rid of vermin

   spring-cleaning

   the activity of cleaning a house thoroughly at the end of winter

   scouring, scrub, scrubbing

   the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water

   dry cleaning

   the act of cleaning (fabrics) with a solvent other than water

   sweeping

   the act of cleaning with a broom

   purge, purging

   an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements

   purification

   the act of cleaning by getting rid of impurities

   sterilisation, sterilization

   the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means)

   sanitation, sanitisation, sanitization

   making something sanitary (free of germs) as by sterilizing

   depilation, epilation

   the act of removing hair (as from an animal skin)

   bathing, washup

   the act of washing yourself (or another person)

   redress, remediation, remedy

   act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil

   retribution

   the act of correcting for your wrongdoing

   compensation, recompense

   the act of compensating for service, loss, or injury

   land reform

   a redistribution of agricultural land (especially by government action)

   reform

   self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice

   fortification

   the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment (as the addition of alcohol to wine or the addition of vitamins to food)

   face lift, face lifting, facelift

   a renovation that improves the outward appearance (as of a building) but usually does not involve major changes

   moralisation, moralization

   the act of making moral (or more moral)

   darning

   the act of mending a hole in a garment with crossing threads

   patching

   the act of mending a hole in a garment by sewing a patch over it

   care, maintenance, upkeep

   activity involved in maintaining something in good working order

   band aid, quick fix, quickie, quicky

   hurried repair

   restoration

   the act of restoring something or someone to a satisfactory state

   reconstruction

   the activity of constructing something again

   restitution

   the act of restoring something to its original state

   housecleaning

   the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a house

   housecleaning

   (figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions

   amendment

   the act of amending or correcting

   emendation

   a correction by emending; a correction resulting from critical editing

   dressing, fecundation, fertilisation, fertilization

   making fertile as by applying fertilizer or manure

   type of:

   change of state

   the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics
2. noun

   a change for the better; progress in development
   synonyms: advance, betterment

   types:

   renaissance, resurgence, revitalisation, revitalization, revival, revivification

   bringing again into activity and prominence

   elaboration, refinement

   the result of improving something

   accommodation, adjustment, fitting

   making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances

   conservation, preservation

   an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change

   recovery

   return to an original state

   readjustment

   the act of adjusting again (to changed circumstances)

   domestication

   accommodation to domestic life

   habituation

   a general accommodation to unchanging environmental conditions

   Renaissance, Renascence, rebirth, renaissance

   the revival of learning and culture

   regeneration

   the activity of spiritual or physical renewal

   resurrection

   a revival from inactivity and disuse

   resuscitation

   the act of reviving a person and returning them to consciousness

   shakedown

   initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state

   type of:

   shift, transformation, transmutation

   a qualitative change
3. noun

   a condition superior to an earlier condition
   “the new school represents a great improvement”

   synonyms: melioration

   antonyms:

   decline

   a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

   types:

   betterment

   an improvement that adds to the value of a property or facility

   development

   a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess)

   reformation

   improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social or political or religious affairs

   refurbishment, renovation, restoration

   the state of being restored to its former good condition

   underdevelopment

   state of inadequate development

   counterreformation

   a reformation intended to counter the results of a prior reformation

   type of:

   condition, status

   a state at a particular time