1. (n.) A making better; amendment; improvement.

2. (n.) An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere repairing would do; -- generally used in the plural.

Great Leap Forward about-face accommodation adaptation adjustment advance advancement alteration amelioration amendment apostasy ascent bettering boost break change change of heart changeableness constructive change continuity conversion defection degeneration degenerative change deterioration deviation difference discontinuity divergence diversification diversion diversity enhancement enrichment eugenics euthenics fitting flip-flop furtherance gradual change headway improvement lift melioration mend mending mitigation modification modulation overthrow pickup preferment progress progression promotion qualification radical change re-creation realignment recovery redesign reform reformation remaking renewal reshaping restoration restructuring reversal revival revivification revolution rise shift sudden change switch total change transition turn turnabout upbeat upheaval uplift upping upswing uptrend upward mobility variation variety violent change worsening