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to alter, modify, rephrase, or add to or subtract from (a motion, bill, constitution, etc.) by formal procedure:
Congress may amend the proposed tax bill.
to change for the better; improve:
to amend one’s ways.
Synonyms: ameliorate, better.
Antonyms: worsen.
to remove or correct faults in; rectify.
to grow or become better by reforming oneself:
He amends day by day.
Synonyms: improve, ameliorate.
Antonyms: worsen.
Contemporary Examples

Rather than urge taxpayers to amend their tax returns to get a refund, the division does the exact opposite.
How the Government Screwed Madoff Victims Again Burt Ross March 7, 2009

It is a shame and an embarrassment that some in the GOP now want to amend it for starkly political reasons.
A GOP Blunder on Immigration Mark McKinnon August 11, 2010

However, Denham has said he will still try to amend the bill on the floor of the House.
Even a Path to Citizenship for Military Volunteers Is Too Much for House Republicans Ben Jacobs April 6, 2014

Should we amend our tax returns to recover the taxes we paid on phantom income and then take a theft loss deduction separately?
How the Government Screwed Madoff Victims Again Burt Ross March 7, 2009

Anger about Citizens United has spurred a movement to amend the Constitution to reverse the opinion.
Undo Citizens United? We’d Only Scratch the Surface Jedediah Purdy November 11, 2014

Historical Examples

The self-accusing culprit fell upon his knees, melted to tears, confessed his errors, and promised thenceforward to amend.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. E. Rameur

A proof of each of the songs that I compose or amend I shall receive as a favour.
The Letters of Robert Burns Robert Burns

So now Gunnar goes to her again, and asked her, what wrought her woe, or if there were anything that might amend it.
The Story of the Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) Anonymous

But he saw the blunder, and hastened to amend the error as best he might.
The Fiery Totem Argyll Saxby

They will do for us what we rarely permit the closest friend to do—they will teach us our faults and how to amend them.
The Revival of Irish Literature Charles Gavan Duffy

verb (transitive)
to improve; change for the better
to remove faults from; correct
to alter or revise (legislation, a constitution, etc) by formal procedure
v.

early 13c., “to free from faults, rectify,” from Old French amender (12c.), from Latin emendare “to correct, free from fault,” from ex- “out” (see ex-) + menda “fault, blemish,” from PIE *mend- “physical defect, fault” (cf. Sanskrit minda “physical blemish,” Old Irish mennar “stain, blemish,” Welsh mann “sign, mark”).

Supplanted in senses of “repair, cure” by its shortened offspring mend (v.). Meaning “to add to legislation” (ostensibly to correct or improve it) is recorded from 1777. Related: Amended; amending.