Synonyms

deepen

American

[dee-puhn] / ˈdi pən /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become deep or deeper.

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

a deepening cyclone.

deepen British

/ ˈdiːpən /

verb

to make or become deep, deeper, or more intense

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of deepen

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

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.

“I want these reforms to not only deepen and consolidate but that they also radicalize in some cases.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Middleton entered the political fray at a pivotal moment, just as fractures in the Texas Republican Party were beginning to deepen.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

If completed, the Power of Siberia 2 "would deepen that interdependence" while also signalling that Russia "is not isolated and can still execute major infrastructure projects", he added.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Older children, usually from seven upwards, can feel isolated or "quite jealous" of peers who haven't experienced loss, and grief can deepen as understanding grows, Sadie added.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Old Rit hated the silence that always fell over the cabin afterward—a hush that spread and spread, and the shadows on the walls seemed to deepen.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023