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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

In 2006, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was amended to make the collection of the telephone metadata legal.
Former NSA Director Michael Hayden Responds to Edward Snowden Claim Eli Lake June 11, 2013

But the recent passage of the amended USA Freedom Act through the House seems to suggest there is an alternative.
The NSA Can ‘Collect-it-All,’ But What Will It Do With Our Data Next? Joshua Kopstein May 15, 2014

An amended bill eventually passed that created a new board without all the power Mitchell and the Alliance had sought.
At This Creepy Libertarian Charter School, Kids Must Swear ‘to Be Obedient to Those in Authority’ ProPublica October 14, 2014

Perhaps this year, the old saying should be amended to: to share is better than to receive.
One of a Kind Gifts Are Only a Neighbor Away Lawrence Ferber December 7, 2014

After a break for lunch, the detective then amended this estimate to 1,000 feet.
Oscar Pistorius Murder Case: What We’ve Learned So Far Melissa Leon February 20, 2013

Historical Examples

This struck Prothero as an inadequate statement of the Socialist project and he made an unsuccessful attempt to get it amended.
The Research Magnificent H. G. Wells

This constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members.
The Boat Club Oliver Optic

Page 76, “Bertaudiere” amended to “Bertaudire” (tower of the Bertaudire).
The True History of The State Prisoner, commonly called The Iron Mask George Agar Ellis

Translated out of the Spanish; now newly corrected and amended.
The Library of William Congreve John C. Hodges

Page 9: “Subnormal” sic; Byond amended to Beyond; opening quote marks added to “supernormal”
Genuine Mediumship or The Invisible Powers Bhakta Vishita

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.