# improving

/ˌɪmˈpɹuvɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪmpɹˈuːvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/improving
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. getting better

verb · CEFR A2

making something better or becoming better than it was before.

For teachers: the present participle of 'improve', used in continuous tenses to indicate ongoing progress or enhancement.

- The weather is improving, so we can go for a walk this afternoon.
- The patient's condition is steadily improving, though the medical team remains cautious about the long-term prognosis.

Usage: Often used in the present continuous to describe a current trend.

### 2. the act of making better

verb · CEFR B1

the process of making something better.

For teachers: the gerund form of 'improve', functioning as a noun to describe the action of enhancement.

- Improving your English takes a lot of practice and patience.
- Improving the infrastructure of the rural districts became the primary focus of the new regional development plan.

Usage: Functions as a noun; often the subject of a sentence.

### 3. helpful for progress

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

something that helps you learn or makes you a better person.

For teachers: tending to improve someone or something, particularly in an educational or moral sense.

- She spent her weekends reading improving books about history and science.
- The Victorian era was marked by a proliferation of improving literature designed to instill moral discipline in the working classes.

Teaching tip: This adjective use is somewhat dated and formal; in modern conversation, people usually say 'educational' or 'helpful'.

## Examples

- My English is improving every day.
- The local government is focused on improving public transport to reduce traffic in the city center.
- By implementing more rigorous data collection methods, the research team succeeded in significantly improving the accuracy of their long-term climate projections.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.