improvement

IPA/ɪmˈpruːvmənt/
KK[ˌɪmprˈuvmənt]IPA/ɪmˈpruːvmənt/

improvement — noun

  • improvementsingular
  • improvementsplural

1. a situation in which the quality or standard of something rises, or an effort to

1.nounB1
Definition

a situation in which the quality or standard of something rises, or an effort to bring this about

Example

Ravindra has shown a noticeable improvement in his maths test scores this semester.

countable: an improvement in [area]

The city is working on the improvement of public transport in the northern suburbs.

uncountable: the improvement of [something]

Common collocations
  • make an improvement / make improvements
  • show an improvement
  • see an improvement
  • room for improvement
  • a significant / dramatic / noticeable / steady improvement
  • continuous improvement
  • home improvements
Synonyms
  • advance

    suggests forward movement or progress, often in knowledge or technology; slightly more formal

  • progress

    uncountable noun focusing on continuous development over time; cannot be used for a single specific change (✖ 'a progress')

  • enhancement

    more formal; often used for specific qualities, features, or digital content rather than general betterment

Antonyms
  • decline

    a gradual downward change in quality, amount, or strength

  • deterioration

    more formal than decline; becoming worse in condition, often due to neglect or wear

Grammar Patterns

improvement in [area/quality]

improvement to [thing/place]

make [adjective] improvement(s)

Usage Note

The countable form (an improvement / improvements) is used when referring to specific changes or results, such as changes made to a building or system. The uncountable form is used for the general concept or process of getting better.

Common Mistakes

❖ 'I have a lot of improvement in my English this year.' ✅ 'I have made a lot of improvement in my English this year.' — 'improvement' is usually paired with 'make' or 'show', not 'have'.

❖ 'The new system is a big improvement of the old one.' ✅ 'The new system is a big improvement on the old one.' — use 'on' (or 'over') when comparing the improved thing to the original.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Improvement is the most general and neutral of these four words, covering any change for the better, from fixing a broken tap to raising test scores. Advance suggests forward movement in a specific field, often one involving knowledge, technology, or human rights ('advances in cancer research'); it implies a step that pushes boundaries. Progress is uncountable and stresses continuous development over time ('the slow progress of peace talks'); unlike improvement, it cannot refer to a single distinct change (✖ 'a progress'). Enhancement is the most formal and is typically used for specific qualities, features, or digital assets ('image enhancement', 'flavour enhancement') rather than general betterment. In everyday use, say 'I saw an improvement in my French' (not 'an advance' or 'an enhancement').

improvement ↗advance ↗progress ↗enhancement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make improvements
  • show improvement
  • see improvement
  • room for improvement
  • area for improvement
  • continuous improvement
  • home improvements

Prepositions

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchEnglish

Improvement entered English in the 1400s from Anglo-French 'emprowement', meaning 'a turning to profit'. It came from 'emprower' (to make profit), based on 'prou' (profit, advantage). The spelling shifted from 'em-' to 'im-' under the influence of Latin. Originally the word meant 'profitable use' or 'management for profit', and only in the 1600s did it broaden to mean 'making something better' in a general sense.