enhance
Americanverb
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.
Related Words
See elevate.
Other Word Forms
- enhancement noun
- enhancer noun
- enhancive adjective
- unenhanced adjective
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; haughty ), though -n- is unexplained
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 operational meltdown came even though IndiGo had two years to prepare for the new rules aimed at giving pilots more rest periods in between flights to enhance passenger safety.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
AI agents can actually be designed to enhance a company’s cyber defenses.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The pullback in Treasury bond markets will also enhance the present value of corporate profits, a crucial element in pricing stocks, which could support markets heading into the second quarter.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
Two years ago, Dutch schools banned smartphones to reduce distractions, enhance student concentration, and encourage better academic performance.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
How might you utilize the music teacher in your school to enhance your lesson?
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
