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cheapen

[ chee-puhn ]
/ ˈtʃi pən /
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See synonyms for: cheapen / cheapened / cheapening 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.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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

cheapĀ·enĀ·er, noununĀ·cheapĀ·ened, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cheapen in a sentence

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 Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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