deepen

[dee-puhn]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become deep or deeper: deep.

   Larger ships will be able to navigate the river after the main channel is deepened. The shadows deepened toward late afternoon.

2. Meteorology.,  to decrease in atmospheric pressure.

   a deepening cyclone.

deepen

/ ˈdiːpən /

verb

1. to make or become deep, deeper, or more intense

Other Word Forms

• deepener noun
• deepeningly adverb
• overdeepen verb (used with object)
• undeepened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deepen¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; deep + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Israel has deepened some of the divisions by trying during the war to recruit families as a counterweight to Hamas.

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Before Milei took power, Argentina -- a major lithium producer -- had been deepening ties with China.

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She added: “So to be able to have access and broader tools as a scholar in residence, to enrich that and deepen that, is really so exciting for me.”

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The Chinese move against the South Korean shipbuilder, which has been expanding and deepening its business ties with the U.S., came amid an intensifying trade fight between Beijing and Washington.

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The declines deepen slides that began before the pandemic.

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Related Words

• aggravate 
• develop 
• enhance 
• expand 
• heighten 
• increase 
• intensify 
• redouble 
• reinforce 
• strengthen