Meaning & use
improvements
Last updated
“improvements” is a form of “improvement”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Changes that make something better than it was before.
Grammar: Plural form of a countable noun: several improvements, not several improvement.
Patterns
- improvements to something
- make improvements
The school has made many improvements to its library this year.
Customers asked for improvements in delivery times.
There have been noticeable improvements since the new manager arrived.
nounusually plural
Work done to a house or building that adds comfort or value, such as a new kitchen or roof.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase home improvements: spend money on improvements.
Patterns
- home improvements
- improvements to a property
They spent their savings on home improvements before selling the house.
Improvements to the old farmhouse took almost a year.
The landlord charged extra for the improvements he had made.
Common combinations
- make improvements
- We need to make improvements to our website.
- significant improvements
- The report shows significant improvements in test scores.
- home improvements
- She watches shows about home improvements every weekend.
- suggest improvements
- Staff were invited to suggest improvements to the schedule.
- improvements in something
- There were improvements in air quality across the city.
Synonyms and how they differ
- upgrades
- Upgrades usually replace something with a better version, such as software or equipment, whereas improvements can be small adjustments.
- enhancements
- Enhancements sound more formal and suggest adding extra quality to something already good.
- advances
- Advances suggest steps forward in knowledge or technology, not everyday repairs or changes.
- refinements
- Refinements are small, careful changes that perfect something, so they are narrower than improvements.
Opposites
Word family
- improvement noun
- a change that makes something better
- improve verb
- to become or make better
- improved adjective
- better than before
- improvable adjective
- able to be made better
Commonly confused: improvements or improvisations?
improvements vs improvisations
Improvisations are things made up on the spot without preparation, not planned changes that make something better.
Practice
The council promised to make several ___ to the park, including new benches and better lighting.
Choose one answer.
After several you need a plural noun, so improvements fits. Improving and improved are forms of the verb and cannot follow make several here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “improvements”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.