improvement, betterment, advance (noun)

a change for the better; progress in development

improvement (noun)

the act of improving something

"their improvements increased the value of the property"

improvement, melioration (noun)

a condition superior to an earlier condition

"the new school represents a great improvement"

improvement (Noun)

The act of improving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc.

improvement (Noun)

The act of making profitable use or application of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse.

improvement (Noun)

The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved; as, the new edition is an improvement on the old.

improvement (Noun)

Increase; growth; progress; advance.

improvement (Noun)

(plural): Valuable additions or betterments, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on premises.

improvement (Noun)

(Patent Laws): A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition.

Improvement

Improvement is the process of a thing moving from one state to a state considered to be better, usually through some action intended to bring about that better state. The concept of improvement is important to governments and businesses, as well as to individuals.