noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɪmˈpɹuːvmənt/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH2 M P R UW1 V M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of improving; advancement or growth; a bettering
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
November 9, 1662, Robert South, Of the Creation of Man in the Image of God I look upon your city as [...] the best place of improvement.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act of making profitable use or application of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; practical application, for example of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The state of being improved; betterment; advance
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something which is improved
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
the new edition is an improvement on the old.
The decade has seen vast improvements in techniques.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Increase; growth; progress; advance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Valuable additions or betterments, for example buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on premises.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, in-plural, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Patent Laws
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
the act of improving something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
their improvements increased the value of the property
