Synonyms

deepen

American

[dee-puhn] / ˈdi pən /

verb (used with or without object)

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.
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

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

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.

The Ukrainian president on Thursday travelled to Romania where he deepened defence ties and agreed to launch joint drone production with Bucharest.

From Barron's

For some residents, the sudden danger has deepened their appreciation for Dubai, which they say has welcomed diversity and created an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among other issues, Beijing last year agreed to purchase US soybeans after a halt in Chinese orders as a trade dispute deepened.

From Barron's

Retail investors who earned respect on Wall Street last year for buying the “liberation day” dip and other pullbacks have pressed pause on their stock buying as the Middle East conflict deepens.

From MarketWatch

The competing messages highlight the intense pressure surrounding Iran as the conflict deepens.

From BBC

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