greaten

American

[greyt-n] / ˈgreɪt n /

verb (used with object)

to make greater; enlarge; increase.

verb (used without object)

to become greater.

greaten British

/ ˈɡreɪtən /

verb

archaic to make or become great

"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

Etymology

Origin of greaten

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; great, -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.

Surprisingly, the team found that whilst one abortion increased the chance of a pre-term birth, repeat procedures did not seem to incrementally greaten the risk.

From BBC

Then a near comprehension that is love Of trees or sheep, songs or some man or woman, Shakes us one day and nothing is the same, Because we grow aware that we must leave The very joy that lights ourselves for us And shows where we may greaten for its sake.

From Project Gutenberg

The persons upon the stage, let us say, greaten till they are humanity itself.

From Project Gutenberg

As the tree has but one basic urge—to grow and greaten; the flower but one desire—to bloom, to improve; to assert itself through evolution and become better.

From Project Gutenberg

Then do I greaten with the pride of life.

From Project Gutenberg

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