Synonyms for improve
Most common
All synonyms
Verb
1. Ameliorate
better formal, ameliorate, enhance, amend, increase, refine, optimize, optimalise UK, optimise UK, elevate, advance, gain, progress, heighten, revamp, rectify, cultivate, perfect, correct, mend, civilize, civilise UK, emend, meliorate rare
Other
get better, use, re-form, gain ground, turn to account, shape up, lift, edify, batten, alchemise rare
Definitions
- v. 1
To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
Painting the woodwork will improve this house.
Related words
- Word family
- improvable improvement improver improving
- Phrases
- improve on
- Is a kind of
- alter augment
Forms
- Past participle
- improved
e.g. improved → bettered, ameliorated, enhanced, amended…
Choose the right word
Advance, better, and improve may refer either to what is quite imperfect or to what has reached a high degree of excellence; we advance the kingdom of God, improve the minds of our children, better the morals of the people.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- increase It cannot be denied that crime is on the increase.
- enhance Algeria needs to enhance its regional connectivity.
- amend The Diet is likely to amend this unpopular law.
- ameliorate He helped to ameliorate the living conditions of working men.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| improve | steady | |
| increase | falling | |
| enhance | rising | |
| amend | falling | |
| ameliorate | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- use1
- 4 letters
- gain1, lift1, mend1
- 5 letters
- amend2, edify3, emend
- 6 letters
- better2, refine2, revamp2, batten2
- 7 letters
- perfect2, correct2, advance2, enhance2, elevate3, rectify3
- 8 letters
- increase2, progress2, optimize3, heighten2, optimise, civilize3, civilise
- 9 letters
- cultivate3, meliorate, alchemise
- 10 letters
- ameliorate4, optimalise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (amend2 = 2 syllables).