sweeten

[sweet-n]

verb (used with object)

1. to make sweet, as by adding sugar.

2. to make mild or kind; soften.

3. to lessen the acridity or pungency of (a food) by prolonged cooking.

4. to reduce the saltiness of (a food or dish) by diluting with water, milk, or other liquid.

5. to make (the breath, room air, etc.) sweet or fresh, as with a mouthwash, spray, etc.

6. (in musical recording) to add musical instruments to (an arrangement), especially strings for a lusher sound.

7. Chemistry.

   1. to make (the stomach, soil, etc.) less acidic, as by means of certain preparations, chemicals, etc.

   2. to remove sulfur and its compounds from (oil or gas).

8. Informal.

   1. to enhance the value of (loan collateral) by including additional or especially valuable securities.

   2. to add to the value or attractiveness of (any proposition, holding, etc.).

9. to add more liquor to (an alcoholic drink).

10. Poker.,  to add stakes to (a pot) before opening.

verb (used without object)

1. to become sweet or sweeter.

sweeten

/ ˈswiːtən /

verb

1. (also intr) to make or become sweet or sweeter

2. to mollify or soften (a person)

3. to make more agreeable

4. (also intr) chem to free or be freed from unpleasant odours, acidic or corrosive substances, or the like

5. finance to raise the value of (loan collateral) by adding more securities

6. informal,  poker to enlarge (the pot) by adding chips

Other Word Forms

• nonsweetened adjective
• outsweeten verb (used with object)
• oversweeten verb (used with object)
• presweeten verb (used with object)
• resweeten verb
• unsweetened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweeten¹

First recorded in 1545–55; sweet + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Tennis Australia is equally as bold as its American counterparts, but it does not have the same financial clout to offer the mountain of prize money and sweetening appearance fees.

From BBC

But food, some believe, can sweeten that deal.

From BBC

Texas will restrict the purchase of sweetened drinks and candy.

From Salon

Coca-Cola products sold in the U.S. have been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s.

From Salon

The company already uses regular sugar to sweeten its signature Coke drink in many parts of the world, but in the US it has typically used corn syrup, a lower cost alternative, for decades.

From BBC

Related Words

• mull