heighten

[hahyt-n]

verb (used with object)

1. to increase the height of; make higher.

2. to increase the degree or amount of; augment.

   Cézanne's death heightened the value of his paintings.

3. to strengthen, deepen, or intensify.

   to heighten the plot of a story; to heighten one's awareness or appreciation; to heighten one's suffering.

4. to bring out the important features of, as in a drawing.

   to heighten a picture with Chinese white.

verb (used without object)

1. to become higher.

2. to increase.

   The tension heightened as the enemy forces advanced.

3. to brighten or become more intense.

heighten

/ ˈhaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become high or higher

2. to make or become more extreme or intense

Other Word Forms

• heightener noun
• unheightened adjective
• heightened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heighten¹

First recorded in 1515–25; height + -en ¹

Synonym Study

See elevate.

Example Sentences

But the longer the impasse lasts, the more economic risks heighten.

Read more on Barron's

“Relative to when we talked about it the last time, folks have started to become more comfortable with just a heightened level of uncertainty,” he says.

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It also is conducting heightened monitoring to ensure institutions are prepared for scenarios that could affect liquidity, including assessing liquidity management at material foreign operations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Medication abortion is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. and has faced heightened scrutiny from antiabortion groups and lawmakers who have sought to limit its use.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Air-traffic control operations have faced heightened scrutiny following a deadly midair collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• add to www.thesaurus.com
• boost 
• enhance 
• improve 
• increase 
• magnify 
• raise 
• strengthen