heighten
- 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.
- to become higher.
- to increase: The tension heightened as the enemy forces advanced.
- to brighten or become more intense.
Origin of heighten
Synonym study
Related Words for heighten
raise, magnify, strengthen, increase, enhance, boost, improve, extend, augment, exalt, enlarge, elevate, lift, amplifyExamples from the Web for heighten
Contemporary Examples of heighten
Or really more that Instagram is no different than these paintings of yore that served to heighten status.
Adrian Grenier Talks the Economy, the ‘Entourage’ Movie, and the HBO Series’ Alleged ‘Misogyny’Marlow Stern
October 28, 2014
“AIDS is effecting the world, so I wanted to heighten the awareness that we are all in the same boat,” Mooney said.
And the fact the line was moved from a scene in the middle of the film to one at the end only served to heighten its impact.
He has spoken about how he would listen to her to smooth over the rough days, or heighten his joy.
Even poetry has been called into play to heighten the passions of the actors in this dangerous drama.
Historical Examples of heighten
If it is an imperfect word, no external circumstance can heighten its value as poetry.
The LyricJohn Drinkwater
The Gothinians, to heighten their disgrace, are forced to labour in the iron mines.
Tacitus on GermanyTacitus
It's an axiom, I think, that to heighten a nation's wisdom you must lower its franchise.
The Stark Munro LettersJ. Stark Munro
Possibly she was so choosy in order to heighten her importance.
Greener Than You ThinkWard Moore
Some old dyers use Brazil wood to heighten the red of madder.
Vegetable DyesEthel M. Mairet
heighten
- to make or become high or higher
- to make or become more extreme or intense