enhance
Americanverb (used with object)
-
enhances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
enhanced,
past participle, past
-
enhancing
present participle
verb
Usage
What does enhance mean? To enhance is to raise to a higher degree, such as to magnify or intensify something. To enhance a photo, for example, is to improve the colors, lighting, or other characteristics in order to improve the photo. Generally speaking, enhancing somehow makes something better. Something that is enhanced has its intensity, value, or size increased. To enhance is also to increase the value or price of something. A tie might not be very valued just for being a tie, for example. But if that tie was worn by someone famous, the tie’s value is enhanced because that celebrity wore it. Example: Salt is commonly added to dishes to enhance their flavor.
Synonym Usage
See elevate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enhancesimple
-
enhancessimple
-
have enhancedperfect
-
has enhancedperfect
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am enhancingprogressive
-
are enhancingprogressive
-
is enhancingprogressive
-
have been enhancingperfect progressive
-
has been enhancingperfect progressive
Past
-
enhancedsimple
-
had enhancedperfect
-
was enhancingprogressive
-
were enhancingprogressive
-
had been enhancingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enhance
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English enhauncen, from Anglo-French enhauncer, apparently for Old French enhaucer, equivalent to en- en- 1 + haucer “to raise” ( French hausser ) from the unattested Vulgar Latin altiāre (derivative of Latin altus “high,” with h-, from Germanic; see haughty), though -n- is unexplained
Explanation
Many people use the expression "enhance your chance" to point out ways to increase your chances of winning or earning a contest or prize. When you enhance something, you heighten it or make it better. "Hance" is not a word, but the addition of "en-" does something to enhance it and improve its sound. You can enhance the size of something, too, by altering it or raising it, which is what the word original meant (the "hance" part came via French from Latin altus, meaning "high"). When you enhance something you take it to a higher level, like adding salt to French fries to enhance flavor or adding words to enhance your vocabulary.
Vocabulary lists containing enhance
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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List 10
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Tears of a Tiger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Carney said Canada was also offering CAN$450 million in loan guarantees to enhance the Ukrainian energy supply.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
The males have extra bits that should enhance his visual tracking.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
Headquartered in a vast, imposing 1960s-designed block in Geneva, the ILO aims to promote rights at work, encourage good employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
The analysts expect coal-fired assets to transition toward flexible-adjustment resources, as capacity payments and ancillary services diversify revenue streams and enhance CR Power’s long-term operational resilience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
However, it raises the ongoing controversy about gene editing and its potential to be used to enhance embryos and the future of humanity.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
"Diversifying energy supplies, including with abundant US sources, enhances regional stability and prosperity."
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
The glow of a World Series appearance — also known as recency bias — enhances value.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
A fully realized edible garden, complete with raised beds and fruiting trees, enhances the property’s sense of abundance and connection to nature.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
"Our aim is to explain all elements of royal finances in a way that further enhances clarity and accessibility," said a Palace spokesman.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Aural transmission also enhances brain function since memorization is essential, along with mental mapping of melodies and rhythms.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Police chiefs also say they have initiated an "enhanced and co-ordinated" approach to gathering as much intelligence as possible in the days ahead.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Another high point this summer was the popularity of Imax and other enhanced formats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Senegal confirmed it will implement an "enhanced version" of what is known as the "G20 Common Framework".
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
He added that Huskeys offers “an enhanced layer of defense against the types of attacks that we believe are coming.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
When she spoke, her words enhanced the efforts of those around her.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The technology works by helping water droplets form more easily and detach more quickly, a combination that could improve energy efficiency in power plants and desalination facilities while also enhancing the cooling of electronic devices.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
They were designed to mimic the natural features bats used for roosting, enhancing their habitats and helping bat populations to thrive on its sites.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
“We got the good news that it wasn’t enhancing and we got the concerning news that it still was something. It wasn’t nothing,” Pitt said on the podcast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
“We’re always enhancing our fraud and scam prevention program as criminals find new ways to target consumers,” the JPMorgan spokeswoman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Well, you can forget about it. Lala’s focus is exactly where it needs to be— on music and her schoolwork. No more talk about enhancing her ability.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
