Do you have a word of the day calendar? If you do, you know how rewarding and beneficial learning a new word can be. But, even without a word of the day calendar, there are many English words you can study, like “ameliorate,” and we’ll let you know the “ameliorate definition.”
Ameliorate means “to make or become better, more satisfactory, amend, upgrade, or solve a problem.” Use this transitive verb when describing an action done to something or someone to enhance, develop, rectify, heal, reform, uplift, or provide relief. For example, “Food drives can ameliorate hunger.”
Do you know that some words may seem familiar until you start learning about them? An example of such a word is “ameliorate.” This post will surprise you with the things you didn’t know or thought you knew about the word “ameliorate.” We will focus on “ameliorate definition, meaning, history, pronunciation,” and all the relevant word basics.
What Is The Definition Of Ameliorate?
The simple definition for “ameliorate” is “to step in and make a bad situation better.”
Here are some sentence examples:
- It would help if you introduced a second chair to ameliorate the battle between the two toddlers.
- A lollipop may help ameliorate the child’s tantrum.
- The cops unsuccessfully tried to ameliorate the riots.
Other Meanings Of Ameliorate
Ameliorate is a straightforward word with multiple but related meanings. Some of its other meanings are explained below.
Ameliorate means to improve someone’s physical condition or provide relief from pain and suffering. For example, in a sentence, “The pills will help ameliorate your headaches.”
Ameliorate means to cause a transformation to something to improve its performance or quality. In simpler terms, it means to upgrade, amend, or build up. In a sentence, “The new parts will ameliorate the faulty machine performance.”
Are you wondering what the best way to use “ameliorate” in your contexts? The truth is there is more than one context where you can use the word “ameliorate.” If your context means or has close meaning to the following instances, you can comfortably use the word “ameliorate.”
- To make better something perceived to be in a negative condition
- To provide relief to something or someone
- To recover from a bad, negative, or unhealthy position or situation
- To show progress in mood or disposition
- To earn through effort or work
The five sentence examples below help you understand the above contexts or situations better.
- The county spent so much money to ameliorate the conditions in the suburbs.
- The money we donated helped ameliorate the orphan’s suffering.
- What can we do to ameliorate your pain?
- The years of medical training helped her ameliorate the bleeding before the first responders arrived.
- Why do you doubt the therapist when the strategy helps ameliorate their grief?
Questions You May Want To Know About Ameliorate
Being inquisitive is a key to improving your learning, inside or outside class. Therefore, it is normal to have questions even when learning new words. Below are some F.A.Q.s many people have when learning about the word “ameliorate.”
What is another word for ameliorate? To ameliorate is to make things better or provide relief. Therefore, any word with the same meaning can be used as an alternative for “ameliorate.” Such words are called synonyms, including set right, soothe, alleviate, ease, or rally.
Is there any difference between ameliorate and alleviate? To alleviate is to take away something negative completely. On the other hand, to ameliorate is to make it better or improve it. Therefore, the words are related but not 100% the same.
What Is The Meaning Of Ameliorate?
Ameliorate means to become better or improve. It also means to solve a problem or improve a situation.
Here are a few examples in sentences
- The administration offered some compromises to ameliorate the unrest between the staff and the students.
- RedCross volunteers are usually trained to ameliorate emergencies before first responders arrive.
- We all know that the school called in therapists to ameliorate the impact of the attacks on the students.
Synonyms Of Ameliorate
Using synonyms (words with similar meanings) saves you from applying the exact word repeatedly. Therefore, it enriches your writing and develops your vocabulary. Here is a short list of synonyms for “ameliorate.”
- Improve
- Better
- Enhance
- Rectify
- Refine
- Soothe
- Lighten
- Pacify
Antonyms Of Ameliorate
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Here are a few antonyms of “ameliorate” that you need to know.
- Worsen
- Deteriorate
- Decrease
- Decline
- Degenerate
- Degrade
- Fail
- Diminish
Rhymes For Ameliorate
Rhyming words will help you learn words that sound similar to a particular word. The key to rhyming is finding words with the same ending sound and using them to create a rhyme or song. These are some rhyming words for “ameliorate.”
- Accelerate
- Incorporate
- Accommodate
- Conglomerate
- Degenerate
- Moderate
- Affectionate
- Aggregate
How To Use Ameliorate In A Sentence
Ameliorate is a transitive verb. Use it in a sentence to describe an action done to someone or something. Also, use the word in various forms like an adjective, provided the context fits. Before using any new word in sentences, start with mastering its meaning and application context.
Word Forms Of Ameliorate
Ameliorate has several word forms you can use when constructing sentences. Below are some of them and examples to guide you.
- The past tense of “ameliorate” is ameliorated. (The police ameliorated the situation by talking to the village heads).
- The third-person singular simple present indicative form of “ameliorate” is ameliorates. (The suggested ameliorates came in handy in the past few months).
- The present participle of “ameliorate” is ameliorating. (The correctional officers tried ameliorating the problem before turning to violence).
- The past participle of “ameliorate” is ameliorated. (I gave her the gift because she ameliorated my kid’s erratic behaviors through therapy).
- The adjective for “ameliorate” is amelioratory. (The teacher made amelioratory gestures at her students when the panel took the stage).
- The adjective forms of “ameliorate” are ameliorable and ameliorative. In a sentence, “The child’s tantrum is ameliorable.”
10 Examples Of Ameliorate In A Sentence
More often than not, reading the definitions of a new word isn’t enough. You still need to look at sentence examples and try constructing some. Here are a few examples to get you started before constructing your sentences.
- President Obama was the most relatable leader in the United States whose main agenda was to ameliorate the people’s suffering.
- The main reason for her going to the police was to try to ameliorate the situation before it worsened.
- A centralized policy would be wrong as it will not ameliorate the issue.
- The council held discussions for months to develop a solution to ameliorate the negative impact of the panels in the city.
- I can hardly sleep well because I keep thinking about what I can do to ameliorate my son’s suffering.
- Scientists are yet to provide conclusive reasons why zinc can help ameliorate the symptoms of the common cold.
- The Biden administration has promised to ameliorate the discrimination against minority communities in the United States suburbs.
- I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to ameliorate your punishment.
- The Kansas police tried to ameliorate the situation, but the rioters were too rowdy and violent.
- This technical strategy can also ameliorate problems with potential cyber attackers.
How Do You Spell Ameliorate?
Spell this word as “A.M.E.L.I.O.R.A.T.E.”
Correct spelling plays a significant role in written communication. Whenever you learn a new word, ensure you take time to practice its correct spelling. Linguists recommend breaking down the word into syllables and writing it down severally so that it sticks in your memory.
How Do You Pronounce Ameliorate?
The correct pronunciation for “ameliorate” is “(ə-mēl′yə-rāt′) or (uh-mee-lee-ur-ayt)”
Paying attention to pronunciation is essential for effective verbal communication. However, pronunciation does not come naturally to all people. Therefore, if you are having difficulty with pronunciation, the wise thing to do would be to break down the word, read it out loud, record yourself, and listen to recordings of others speaking the word.
How Many Syllables Are In Ameliorate?
“Ameliorate” has four syllables.
The syllables are; “a – mel – io – rate.” The stressed syllable in “ameliorate” is “mel.” Splitting a word into syllables is a great way to master its spelling. Doing so can also help you with pronunciation.
History & Etymology Of Ameliorate
Ameliorate came from the French verb “ameliorer” in the mid-17th century. The French verb “ameliorer” came from two parts in Latin, which are the prefix “a” meaning “to” and the suffix “melior,” meaning “better.”
Therefore, ameliorate means “to make something better.” The root “melior” was formed from the Proto-Indo-European root “Mel,” meaning “strong or large,” and “a,” meaning “to or near.”
When Was Ameliorate First Used?
The first recognized use of “ameliorate” was in 1728 as “to make better.”
While this word came to English in the late 1720s, its use peaked in the mid-1800s when public figures started using it and introduced it. However, its popularity dipped in the mid-1900s before returning in the 2000s.
Conclusion
Ameliorate means “to enhance or make better.” Its meaning is quite simple, and you can easily use this word in sentences. Additionally, this transitive verb has many other word forms you can apply in sentences. Please ensure to read this post entirely and start practicing sentence constructions using the word “ameliorate.”
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.