/ ɪmˈpruːv; NAmE / verb
to become better than before; to make sth/sb better than before :
[ v ]
His quality of life has improved dramatically since the operation.
The doctor says she should continue to improve (= after an illness) .
[ vn ]
to improve standards
The company needs to improve performance in all these areas.
I need to improve my French.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- improve on / upon sth
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (as emprowe or improwe ): from Anglo-Norman French emprower (based on Old French prou profit, ultimately from Latin prodest is of advantage); -owe was changed to -ove under the influence of prove . The original sense was make a profit, increase the value of ; subsequently make greater in amount or degree .