improvement
Americannoun
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a change or addition by which a thing is improved.
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a person or thing that represents an advance on another in excellence or achievement.
The new landlord is a great improvement over his greedy predecessor.
- Synonyms:
- advancement, betterment, refinement
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a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment.
- Synonyms:
- repair, enhancement
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something done or added to real property that increases its value.
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profitable use, as of a period of time.
noun
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the act of improving or the state of being improved
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something that improves, esp an addition or alteration
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alteration of the structure, fixtures, fittings, or decor of a building without changing its function Compare conversion
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(usually plural) a building or other works on a piece of land, adding to its value
Other Word Forms
- nonimprovement noun
- preimprovement noun
Etymology
Origin of improvement
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English improuement, from Anglo-French emprouement “something profitable (especially exploitation of land)”; improve, -ment
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Despite that selloff in recent weeks, Zener doesn’t believe the sector has been “de-risked” enough to consider buying home-builder stocks without an improvement in the job market.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
The move is a marked improvement to the proposal in January, which held rates roughly flat.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Bass said those facilities are a vast improvement over the street, providing bathrooms, heating, air conditioning, hot showers, three meals a day and doors that lock.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
It was subject to an improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate, and special measures were imposed.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
“Oh, then you want to be an actress,” in a tone that said this was only a slight improvement over my first career choice.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.