enhance
Americanverb (used with object)
-
enhances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
enhanced,
past participle, past
-
enhancing
present participle
verb
Usage
What does enhance mean? To enhance is to raise to a higher degree, such as to magnify or intensify something. To enhance a photo, for example, is to improve the colors, lighting, or other characteristics in order to improve the photo. Generally speaking, enhancing somehow makes something better. Something that is enhanced has its intensity, value, or size increased. To enhance is also to increase the value or price of something. A tie might not be very valued just for being a tie, for example. But if that tie was worn by someone famous, the tie’s value is enhanced because that celebrity wore it. Example: Salt is commonly added to dishes to enhance their flavor.
Synonym Usage
See elevate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enhancesimple
-
enhancessimple
-
have enhancedperfect
-
has enhancedperfect
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am enhancingprogressive
-
are enhancingprogressive
-
is enhancingprogressive
-
have been enhancingperfect progressive
-
has been enhancingperfect progressive
Past
-
enhancedsimple
-
had enhancedperfect
-
was enhancingprogressive
-
were enhancingprogressive
-
had been enhancingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enhance
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English enhauncen, from Anglo-French enhauncer, apparently for Old French enhaucer, equivalent to en- en- 1 + haucer “to raise” ( French hausser ) from the unattested Vulgar Latin altiāre (derivative of Latin altus “high,” with h-, from Germanic; see haughty), though -n- is unexplained
Explanation
Many people use the expression "enhance your chance" to point out ways to increase your chances of winning or earning a contest or prize. When you enhance something, you heighten it or make it better. "Hance" is not a word, but the addition of "en-" does something to enhance it and improve its sound. You can enhance the size of something, too, by altering it or raising it, which is what the word original meant (the "hance" part came via French from Latin altus, meaning "high"). When you enhance something you take it to a higher level, like adding salt to French fries to enhance flavor or adding words to enhance your vocabulary.
Vocabulary lists containing enhance
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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List 10
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Tears of a Tiger
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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.
See Examples For:
There’s a lot of money being lost on the other properties, and as a result, the shareholders of those airlines must be demanding accountability to the managers of those airlines to enhance their performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
The former Premier League striker says, while the result of the friendly is largely inconsequential, those players who are selected will know it's a great chance to enhance their reputations and that of Beninese football.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
In several cases, AI was used to enhance visuals rather than generate something new.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026
Pacific leaders are pushing for the world to stick to a target of limiting global warming to 1.5C, enhance access to climate finance, and give more attention to the impact on oceans.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Ravenclaw’s was supposed to have magical properties, enhance the wisdom of the wearer.”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
But what separates Factory from other AI coding tools is it is creating an AI-agent developer for enterprises, rather than an AI-assisted tool that enhances the work of individual human engineers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
El Niño typically enhances hurricane activity in the eastern and central Pacific because of the warm ocean temperatures it brings to that part of the ocean.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
"Diversifying energy supplies, including with abundant US sources, enhances regional stability and prosperity."
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
"Aerial support complements the extensive work already being undertaken by firefighters and partner agencies on the ground and enhances our ability to limit the spread of fire where conditions allow."
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The police have received no training that enhances the likelihood they will spot the guilty people as they drive by and leave everyone else alone.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Citing the measures, the Binance investigators filed an “escalation document” to address “the urgent need for enhanced risk mitigation strategies at Binance.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
"We observed that the critical temperature can increase by up to 5.4% in a six-layer NbSe2 device, while the critical current and critical magnetic field are significantly enhanced near the superconducting transition," said Prof. Cheng.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026
Citing sources close to Kasparov, the paper said he had been placed under enhanced protection over the summer for the first time since he moved to the US.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
The fact that it outlived “The Swan” by several years only enhanced its role in mainstreaming elective cosmetic surgery.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
There have been some hints of an enhanced surface temperature due to an atmospheric greenhouse effect.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
A 2026 study from the journal Mental Health and Social Inclusion describes stand-up comedy as a “powerful medium for reframing traumatic experiences, fostering social connectedness and enhancing emotional resilience.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The technology was "absolutely not" replacing people, Palmer said, and it was enhancing interactions with clients.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
One focus plays a paramount role in enhancing your retirement years: belonging.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
"Conversely, the sweeter milk chocolate scent acts more like a hedonic reward cue, enhancing training volume by creating a highly pleasant sensory environment rather than by shifting basic metabolic hunger signals."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
"Yeah, they called and offered to help out. Same software they use for enhancing spy satellite imagery."
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
