deepen

[ dee-puh n ]

/ 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.

Nearby words

deep-seated, deep-set, deep-six, deep-vein thrombosis, deep-voiced, deepened, deepfreeze, deeply, deepwater, deer, deer fern

Origin of deepen

First recorded in 1595–1605; deep + -en¹

Related formsdeep·en·er, noundeep·en·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·deep·en, verb (used with object)un·deep·ened, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deepened

And like many of the best songs, their resonance has only deepened with time.
Schoolhouse Rock: A Trojan Horse of Knowledge and Power|Jason Lynch|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Five years later the ADD of the political press corps has only deepened.
Don’t Run for President, Hillary. Become a ‘Post-President’ Instead|Tina Brown|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In terms of how we expanded and deepened our exploration of the characters.
Beau Willimon on Most Shocking Twists in ‘House of Cards’ Season 2|Andrew Romano|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It must also have deepened a certain self-loathing he is bound to have had over his inability to acquire a girlfriend.
Beethoven in Love: The Woman Who Captivated the Young Composer|John Suchet|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the end I abandoned the idea of art in my book, but my appreciation of Watterson and his creation had deepened immeasurably.
‘Dear Mr. Watterson’ Celebrates the Glory of Calvin and Hobbes on Film|Malcolm Jones|November 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Through Fifteenth Street the sun poured a red light that deepened as the mist rose from the docks.
A Young Man in a Hurry|Robert W. Chambers
Blue eyes can always be deepened by wearing the appropriate shade of blue.
Social Life|Maud C. Cooke
I was staying alone with Henry James at Rye one summer, and as twilight deepened we walked together in the garden.
Aspects and Impressions|Edmund Gosse
Night deepened, the city vanished—not a gleam from its myriad lights!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66 No.406, August 1849|Various
An so an hour passed, and the night deepened toward the birth of another day.
Darkness and Dawn|George Allan England

British Dictionary definitions for deepened

deepen

/ (ˈdiːpən) /

verb

to make or become deep, deeper, or more intense

Derived Formsdeepener, 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

Word Origin and History for deepened

deepen

c.1600, from deep (adj.) + -en (1). Related: Deepened; deepening. The earlier verb had been simply deep, from Old English diepan.

deepen

verb (used with or without object)

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Origin of deepen

Examples from the Web for deepened

British Dictionary definitions for deepened

deepen

verb

Word Origin and History for deepened

deepen