improve

/im-ˈprüv/

Middle English improuen, emprouen, from Anglo-French emprouer to make profit from, from French en- + pru, prou advantage, from Late Latin prode

verb

  1. to enhance in value or quality : make, better

  2. to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings)

  3. to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement

improve better help ameliorate mean to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard. improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad. help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

phrasal verb

  1. to do better than (something previously done)

After months of study, I improved on my original score.