enhance
Americanverb (used with object)
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
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has enhancedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have enhancedperfect
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are enhancingprogressive
-
has been enhancingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is enhancingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been enhancingperfect progressive
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enhancessingular 3rd person
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enhancingparticiple
-
am enhancingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had enhancedperfect
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were enhancingprogressive plural
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enhancedparticiple
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had been enhancingperfect progressive
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was enhancingprogressive singular
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enhancedsimple
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.
Appeared in the March 27, 2026, print edition as 'New Zealand Aims to Enhance Its Military'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Ms Ferris was a trainee at Enhance Belfast, a beauty training academy.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2024
On Sept. 1, the university police received a presentation from a representative of Meta, titled, “Working With Meta to Enhance Your Investigations.”
From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2022
Enhance efficacy and accessibility standards for the credit bureaus.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2022
Enhance, en-hans′, v.t. to heighten: to add to, increase.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
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.
