Reverse Dictionary: IMPROVE

ADJECTIVES
► ALTERING likely to improve → 1875 Eng. dial.
► BETTERING that comes better; improving → c1625
► IMPROVATORY of improving nature or tendency → 1835
► ON THE UPGRADE improving; up-and-coming → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► UNBETTERABLE incapable of being improved → 1806
► WELL-MENDED of an ill person: improved in health → 20C Ireland

NOUNS
► AFTER-SPRING a later improvement after a period of decline or decay → 1667
► BETTERANCE the process of bettering; amelioration, improvement; betterment → 1614
► BETTERMENT improvement → 1885 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► BOTE OF BEAM remedy, improvement, restoration → 1330 obs.
► MENDATION amendment, improvement → 1844 Eng. dial.
► MENDMENT amendment, improvement → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► MENDS improvement, cure; amelioration of conduct, health, etc. → 1721 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► OFFER promise, hopes, prospect of improvement → 1953 Sc.
► POLISHMENT a polishing, improving, or bringing to completion → 1594
► UPTICK an improvement → 1974 US sl.

NOUNS – PERSON
► BETTERER one who makes better; an improver → 1600
► IMPROVERESS a female who improves something → 1744 

PHRASES
► ON THE GAIN in the process of recuperating or improving → 1850 Amer. dial.
► ON THE MAKE improving one’s status or situation; rising in position or influence; succeeding in one’s business or vocation → 1864 Amer. colloq.
► ON THE MENDING HAND improving, recovering health; recovering from sickness or injury; convalescent → 1675 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► ON THE MENDING ROAD improving, recovering health → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► ON THE MENDING SIDE improving, recovering health → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► ON THE MENDING WAY improving, recovering health → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► YOU CAN’T POLISH A TURD BUT YOU CAN ROLL IT IN GLITTER you cannot actually improve something unalterably unpleasant or of poor quality, but you can make it appear to be more tolerable, appealing, acceptable, etc. → 2009

VERBS
► BATTEN to grow better, or improve in condition; of animals esp., to improve in bodily condition by feeding, to feed to advantage, to thrive, to grow fat → 1591
► BOW UP to improve → 1939 Amer. dial.
► BUCK UP to improve → 1999  (Bk.)
► GATHER UP ONE’S CRUMBS to ‘pick up’ or recover one’s strength or health; to improve in condition → 1588 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► GOODEN to improve, to prosper → 1866 Eng. dial.
► GREASE THE WHEELS to improve, facilitate, or aid something something or some process; to make or help things run more smoothly or more easily → 1809
► I-WEALY to make a person wealthy or wealthier; also, to enrich, to improve, to enhance something → a1000 obs.
► LICK THY CALF to improve or repair work that has been imperfectly or badly done → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MAKE A SCRATCH to improve one’s status → 1930s sl.
► MAKE YOUR ALLEY GOOD to improve your situation; to redeem yourself in the eyes of others → 1924 Aust. sl.
► MEGGAR to improve, to get better; to recover from an illness, etc.; to get over an illness → 1856 Eng. dial.
► MELIORATE to make better, to improve, to ameliorate; to grow better → a1552
► MELIORIZE to make better; to improve; to grow better → 1598 
​► MENSE to make up for; to amend, to improve → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► MOISE to improve, to mend → 1787 Eng. dial.
► NICE UP to improve, to dress up → 20C W. Indies
► PARLAY to improve one’s position, esp. by taking what one already has, material or otherwise → E19 sl., orig. US
► POLISH A TURD to improve something which is unalterably unpleasant, of poor quality, etc. → 1976
► RAGOO ► RAGOUT to give piquancy or variety to; to enrich or improve → 1749 obs.
► RAIL to improve in condition →  1905 Eng. dial. obs. (Bk.)
► SMART UP to make smart or spruce; to improve in appearance or style → 1780 colloq.
► TAKE UP to improve in health or character → 1883 Sc.
► TICKLE to touch up; to improve or decorate with light touches → 1845
► UP to improve, to boost; to promote → 1950s sl., orig. US