1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) 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.

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

4. (n.) Increase; growth; progress; advance.

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

6. (n.) A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition.

about-face accommodation adaptation adjustment advance alteration amelioration amendment apostasy apprenticeship basic training betterment break breaking breeding change change of allegiance change of heart change of mind changeableness conditioning constructive change continuity convalescence conversion cultivation defection degeneration degenerative change deterioration development deviation difference discipline discontinuity divergence diversification diversion diversity drill drilling enhancement exercise fetching-up fitting flip-flop fostering gain gradual change grooming housebreaking in-service training increase instauration manual training melioration military training mitigation modification modulation new birth nurture nurturing on-the-job training overthrow practice preparation progress qualification radical change raising re-creation reactivation readying realignment rearing rebirth reclamation reconstitution reconversion recovery recrudescence recuperation redemption redesign redintegration reenactment reestablishment reform reformation regeneration rehabilitation rehearsal reinstatement reinstation reinstitution reinvestiture reinvestment remaking renascence renewal repair replacement reshaping restitution restoration restructuring reversal reversion revival revivification revolution rise shift sloyd sudden change switch total change training transition turn turnabout upbringing upgrading upheaval upswing variation variety violent change vocational education vocational training worsening