heighten

[ hahyt-n ]
/ ˈhaɪt n /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR heighten ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to increase the height of; make higher.
to increase the degree or amount of; augment: Cézanne's death heightened the value of his paintings.
to strengthen, deepen, or intensify: to heighten the plot of a story; to heighten one's awareness or appreciation; to heighten one's suffering.
to bring out the important features of, as in a drawing: to heighten a picture with Chinese white.

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of heighten

First recorded in 1515–25; height + -en1

synonym study for heighten

1. See elevate.

OTHER WORDS FROM heighten

height·en·er, nounun·height·ened, adjective

Words nearby heighten

heifer, Heifetz, heigh, heigh-ho, height, heighten, heightism, height of contour, height of land, height-to-paper, Heilbronn
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to heighten

raise, magnify, strengthen, add to, increase, enhance, boost, improve, extend, augment, exalt, enlarge, elevate, lift, amplify, build up, send up

Example sentences from the Web for heighten

British Dictionary definitions for heighten

heighten
/ (ˈhaɪtən) /

verb

to make or become high or higher
to make or become more extreme or intense

Derived forms of heighten

heightened, adjectiveheightener, noun
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