different between thrive vs improve

English

Etymology

From Middle English thryven, thriven, from Old Norse þrífa (“to seize, grasp, take hold, prosper”) (Swedish trivas), from Proto-Germanic *þr?ban? (“to seize, prosper”), from Proto-Indo-European *trep-, *terp- (“to satisfy, enjoy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?v/

• Rhymes: -a?v

Verb

thrive (third-person singular simple present thrives, present participle thriving, simple past throve or thrived, past participle thriven or thrived)

1. To grow or increase stature; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly, to flourish.

   Not all animals thrive well in captivity.

   to thrive upon hard work

   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 16,^[1]

     “It seems to me, reverend father,” said the knight, “that the small morsels which you eat, together with this holy, but somewhat thin beverage, have thriven with you marvellously.”

   • 1855, Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”, X:

     So, on I went. I think I never saw / Such starved ignoble nature; nothing throve: / For flowers - as well expect a cedar grove!

   • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 3,^[2]

     The growing things jumbled themselves together into a dense thicket; so tensely earnest were things about growing in Skedans that everything linked with everything else, hurrying to grow to the limit of its own capacity; weeds and weaklings alike throve in the rich moistness.

2. To increase in wealth or success; to prosper, be profitable.

   Since expanding in June, the business has really thrived.

   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice, Act II Scene 7

     [...] Deliver me the key.

     Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:prosper

Translations

Anagrams

• riveth

English

Alternative forms

• emprove (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p?u?v/
• Rhymes: -u?v

Verb

improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)

1. (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
2. (intransitive) To become better.

   • “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”

3. (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.

4. (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.

5. (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)

     We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us

   • a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved

   • the court has also an opportunity, which it seldom fails to improve.

   • 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief

     How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.

   • March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter

     True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.

Synonyms

• (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve

Antonyms

• (to make something worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen

Derived terms

• improvement
• improver
• improving

Translations

Further reading

• "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.