to improve
Loading your saved state.
to improve
To bring something into a better state; to increase the quality, performance, or value of something.
Ich möchte meine Sprachkenntnisse durch einen Kurs im Ausland verbessern.
I would like to improve my language skills through a course abroad.
to improve
To get better; to go through a positive development. Often refers to a situation, state of health, or skills.
Die wirtschaftliche Lage des Landes hat sich im letzten Quartal leicht verbessert.
The country's economic situation improved slightly in the last quarter.
to correct
To correct an error in a text or statement.
Die Lehrerin verbessert die Aufsätze ihrer Schüler mit einem roten Stift.
The teacher corrects her students' essays with a red pen.
The verb 'verbessern' (to improve) is easy to understand if you break it down: the prefix 'ver-' causes a change, and 'besser' (better) is the comparative form of 'gut' (good). Literally, it means 'to make better'.
Durch regelmäßiges Training konnte er seine Zeit deutlich verbessern.
Through regular training, he was able to improve his time significantly.
The difference between 'verbessern' and 'sich verbessern' is important. 'Etwas verbessern' (to improve something) is transitive and needs an accusative object (you make something else better). 'Sich verbessern' (to improve) is reflexive and means that the subject itself gets better.
Er verbessert seine Programmierkenntnisse.
He is improving his programming skills.
Common things that one can improve are skills ('sein Deutsch verbessern' — to improve one's German), conditions ('die Situation verbessern' — to improve the situation), performance or grades ('die Noten verbessern' — to improve one's grades), or characteristics ('die Qualität verbessern' — to improve the quality).
Die Firma will die Arbeitsbedingungen für ihre Mitarbeiter verbessern.
The company wants to improve the working conditions for its employees.
When it is about errors, texts, or statements, 'verbessern' does not mean 'to make better', but 'to correct'. You can also directly correct a person if they say something wrong.
Entschuldigung, wenn ich Sie verbessere, aber das Wort wird anders ausgesprochen.
Excuse me for correcting you, but the word is pronounced differently.
to lift
Verbessern and heben can both express a positive change in quality or performance. Verbessern directly states that something becomes better. Heben presents the change as a movement to a higher level and is therefore especially suitable when a specific level is explicitly mentioned.
Die neuen Schulungen verbessern die Qualität des Kundenservice.
The new training programs improve the quality of customer service.
Die neuen Schulungen heben die Qualität des Kundenservice auf ein höheres Niveau.
The new training programs raise the quality of customer service to a higher level.
