enhance
Americanverb
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.
Related Words
See elevate.
Other Word Forms
- enhancement noun
- enhancer noun
- enhancive adjective
- unenhanced adjective
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; haughty ), though -n- is unexplained
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.
Peer-to-peer mental health support programs show early signs of improving student mental health, enhancing student engagement and reducing stigma in California high schools, according to a report by the Children’s Partnership.
From Los Angeles Times
“The structure is designed to sharpen strategic focus for each company and support each business in pursuing its strategic ambitions, while enhancing the clarity of each equity story,” Jollibee said.
"From boosting qualifying prize money by 55 percent since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors," he said.
From Barron's
Equally important, it would enhance Japan’s alliance with the U.S. outside the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating Japan’s global relevance.
In a hybrid-work world, the office should be a place that enhances productivity and restoring a sense of personal space would help achieve that.
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.
