improve (up)on something

improve (up)on something
improve (up)on something
to make something better. (

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Do you really think you can improve upon this song?

No one can improve on my favorite melody.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • improve — im‧prove [ɪmˈpruːv] verb 1. [intransitive, transitive] FINANCE if shares, prices etc improve by a particular amount, they rise by that amount: • Jaguar improved 21p, closing at 665p. improve by • Hungary s dollar current account improved by a… …   Financial and business terms

  • improve on/upon — [phrasal verb] improve on/upon (something) : to do better than (something previously done) After months of study, I improved on my original score. It ll be hard to improve upon the success they had last year. • • • Main Entry: ↑improve …   Useful english dictionary

  • improve — im|prove1 [ ım pruv ] verb *** 1. ) transitive to make something better: Our main objective is to improve educational standards. A light airy sunroom greatly improves the quality of life for residents. a ) improve yourself to make yourself a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • improve on — phrasal verb improve on or improve upon [transitive] Word forms improve on : present tense I/you/we/they improve on he/she/it improves on present participle improving on past tense improved on past participle improved on improve on/upon something …   English dictionary

  • improve upon — phrasal verb improve on or improve upon [transitive] Word forms improve on : present tense I/you/we/they improve on he/she/it improves on present participle improving on past tense improved on past participle improved on improve on/upon something …   English dictionary

  • improve — [im pro͞ov′] vt. improved, improving [earlier improw < Anglo Fr emprower < en , in + prou, gain, advantage < LL prode, advantage (back form. < L prodesse, to be of advantage): see PRO 2 & IS1] 1. Now Rare to use profitably or to good… …   English World dictionary

  • improve — 1 Improve, better, help, ameliorate are comparable when denoting to mend or correct in part or in some de gree. Improve, the general term, and better, more vigorous and homely, apply both to objects and to states or conditions that are not of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • improve — I verb advance, ameliorate, amend, appreciate, beautify, correct, cultivate, cure, develop, doctor, edify, edit, elaborate, elevate, embellish, emend, enhance, ennoble, enrich, fix, flourish, gain, gain strength, heighten, help, increase,… …   Law dictionary

  • improve — ► VERB 1) make or become better. 2) (improve on/upon) achieve or produce something better than. 3) (improving) giving moral or intellectual benefit. DERIVATIVES improvability noun improvable adjective improver …   English terms dictionary

  • Improve — means to make something better. It may also refer to:Improver* Bread improver * Improver Corporation: Improver v Remington, a 1990 United Kingdom patent infringement law court caseImproved* Improved clinch knot, a knot * Most Improved Player, a… …   Wikipedia

  • improve — im|prove W1S2 [ımˈpru:v] v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: emprowe to improve (15 16 centuries), from Anglo French emprouer to make a profit , from Old French prou advantage, profit ; probably influenced by approve] [I and T] to make something better,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”