im ‧ prove S2 W1 /ɪmˈpruːv/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ improve ; noun : ↑ improvement ; adjective : ↑ improved ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: emprowe 'to improve' (15-16 centuries) , from Anglo-French emprouer 'to make a profit' , from Old French prou 'advantage, profit' ; probably influenced by approve ]
[intransitive and transitive] to make something better, or to become better:
a course for students wishing to improve their English
The doctors say she is improving (=after being ill) .
You could use the money for improving your home.
Many wines improve with age (=get better as they get older) .
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In everyday English, people often say something gets better rather than improves :
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Her English is definitely getting better.
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I hope things get better soon.
improve on/upon something phrasal verb
to do something better than before or make something better than before:
Bertorelli has scored 165 points, and I don’t think anyone will improve on that.