Verbs for Positive Change · Verbs: Making Changing

to fix a mistake or problem

"Correct your spelling errors before submitting."

"The teacher used a red pen to correct the spelling mistakes in the student's essay before returning it for revision."

to make something right when it was previously incorrect, improper, or defective

"Please rectify the spelling error."

"The technician was called in to rectify the electrical problem that had caused a power outage."

to make something correct

"Right the overturned chair please."

"The company tried to right its wrongs by offering refunds to all customers who had been overcharged due to the billing error."

to fix something that is damaged, broken, or not working properly

"He can repair the broken chair."

"The mechanic said he can repair my car by Friday if I bring it in tomorrow morning."

to examine, repair, and make significant improvements or changes to something

"We need to overhaul the engine."

"The mechanic had to completely overhaul the old engine because it was not working properly."

to correct or improve a situation

"The doctor can remedy your condition."

"The doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic to remedy the patient's bacterial infection and help him recover quickly."

to make something steady and prevent it from fluctuating

"The medication stabilizes his blood pressure quickly."

"The doctor gave the patient medication to stabilize his heart rate and prevent further complications from the condition."

to change something in a significant or fundamental way

"The internet revolutionized global communication."

"The invention of the smartphone revolutionized the way people communicate and access information all around the entire world."

to update or improve something

"The city modernizes its public transit system."

"The museum decided to modernize its exhibits by adding interactive digital displays and virtual reality experiences for visitors."

to better or increase someone or something's quality, strength, value, etc.

"Exercise enhances your overall health greatly."

"The new software update is designed to enhance the user experience by making the interface more intuitive and faster."

to make a person or thing better

"Practice will improve your skills."

"Regular practice is the best way to improve your language skills and become more fluent over time."

to make something have more of a good quality

"Education betters your life opportunities significantly."

"He works hard every day to better himself by learning new skills and reading books about personal development and success."

to make something as excellent or flawless as possible

"Practice perfects your skills over time."

"The chef spent years perfecting his recipe for homemade pasta until he felt that it could not be improved any further."

to make something work at its best by improving how it functions or performs

"Optimize your computer for faster performance."

"The website developer optimized the images and code to make the pages load faster for users with slow internet connections."

to make very precise adjustments, usually small ones, to improve or perfect something

"He fine tuned the guitar strings."

"The engineer spent hours trying to fine-tune the machine for optimal performance and efficiency."

to make something, particularly something unpleasant or unsatisfactory, better or more bearable

"This medicine will ameliorate your pain."

"The new medicine can help ameliorate the painful symptoms of this chronic disease significantly."

to enhance or make better, especially in terms of mood or situation

"Her speech uplifts the depressed crowd."

"The inspiring speech uplifted the spirits of the employees who had been feeling discouraged after the company announced layoffs."

to change something in order to make it better

"The government plans to reform education."

"The government promised to reform the healthcare system to make it more affordable and accessible for all citizens."

to fix something that is damaged or broken so it can work or be used again

"He will mend the toy."

"After the accident, the skilled mechanic was able to mend the damaged car, making it roadworthy again."

to make changes or additions to a document, law, contract, or similar text in order to correct or update it

"They will amend the constitution soon."

"The government agreed to amend the controversial law after receiving many complaints from concerned citizens and human rights groups."

to prepare something for use, often by improving its condition or appearance

"Fix up the old house before selling."

"They spent the whole weekend fixing up the old house by painting the walls and repairing the leaky faucet in the kitchen."

to improve a machine, computer system, etc. in terms of efficiency, standards, etc.

"Upgrade your phone to the latest model."

"You should upgrade your computer's operating system to the latest version to protect yourself from new security threats and viruses."

to develop from a simple form to a more complex or sophisticated one over an extended period

"Species evolve over long periods."

"The company's business model has evolved significantly over the past decade to keep up with changing market demands and new technologies."

to develop into a more advanced or improved stage

"The project continues to progress well."

"The construction project is expected to progress smoothly now that the weather has improved significantly."

to enhance the quality of something, particularly by adding something to it

"Education can enrich your life greatly."

"Education can enrich your life by opening doors to new opportunities and experiences you never imagined."

to change and become stronger or more advanced

"Children develop new skills quickly."

"Children develop language skills at different rates so parents should not worry if their child speaks later than others."

to become greater in size, amount, number, or quality

"Plants need water to grow."

"The small startup began to grow rapidly after receiving significant investment from several venture capital firms."

to perfect or improve something, such as a skill or ability

"She honed her writing skills daily."

"She took a writing course to hone her skills before applying for journalism jobs at newspapers."