cheapen

[ chee-puh n ]
/ ˈtʃi pən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cheapen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to make cheap or cheaper.
to lower in esteem; bring into contempt: Constant swearing cheapened him.
to decrease the quality or beauty of; make inferior or vulgar: She cheapened the dress by adding a fringe to it.
Archaic. to bargain for.

verb (used without object)

to become cheap or cheaper.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cheapen

1555–65; cheap + -en1; replacing Middle English chepen (> obsolete English cheap (v.)) to price, bargain, Old English cēapian to bargain, trade, buy; cognate with Old Norse kaupa, Gothic kaupōn, German kaufen

OTHER WORDS FROM cheapen

cheap·en·er, nounun·cheap·ened, adjective

Words nearby cheapen

cheap at twice the price, cheap out, cheap shot, cheap skate, cheap-jack, cheapen, cheapie, cheapo, cheapside, cheapskate, cheapy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to cheapen

mar, debase, minimize, denigrate, demean, degrade, disparage, decline, lower, decry, derogate, undervalue, ruin, drop, reduce, damage, devalue, downgrade, discredit, spoil

Example sentences from the Web for cheapen

British Dictionary definitions for cheapen

cheapen
/ (ˈtʃiːpən) /

verb

to make or become lower in reputation, quality, etc; degrade or be degraded
to make or become cheap or cheaper

Derived forms of cheapen

cheapener, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012