Ameliorate
/əˈmiːliəreɪt/
Definitions
To make something better; improve.
/əˈmiːliəreɪt/
To make something better or improve it.
The new therapy is expected to ameliorate the patient's symptoms.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're having a bad day. Ameliorate means to make it better! If you're sad, maybe watching a funny movie would ameliorate your mood.
👶 For kids: Making something better, like making a boo-boo feel better with a bandage.
More Examples
The government is taking steps to ameliorate the economic situation.
They worked hard to ameliorate the suffering of the refugees.
The measures taken were intended to ameliorate the negative effects of pollution.
How It's Used
"The organization's goal is to ameliorate the living conditions of the homeless."
"The company implemented new policies to ameliorate customer service issues."
Synonyms
Alleviate
Better
Enhance
Improve
Mend
Mitigate
Rectify
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From French améliorer, from the adjective meilleur ('better'), from Latin melior ('better').
The word 'ameliorate' started gaining traction in the 18th century during a period of social and political reform, reflecting a desire to improve societal conditions.
Memory tip
Think of 'a meal, later ate' – a bad meal can be ameliorated by adding seasoning or cooking better!