thicken

[thik-uhn]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become thick or thicker.

2. to make or grow more intense, profound, intricate, or complex.

   The plot thickens.

thicken

/ ˈθɪkən /

verb

1. to make or become thick or thicker

   thicken the soup by adding flour

2. (intr) to become more involved

   the plot thickened

Other Word Forms

• thickener noun
• rethicken verb
• unthicken verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of thicken¹

1375–1425; late Middle English thiknen < Old Norse thykkna. See thick, -en ¹

Example Sentences

Few writers since Henry James can create an atmosphere of doubt around events and character as effectively as this author does, and in “Venetian Vespers” the miasma thickens at every turn.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These polar "geoengineering" techniques aim to cool the planet in unconventional ways, such as artificially thickening sea-ice or releasing tiny, reflective particles into the atmosphere.

Read more on BBC

Scanning the spice rack, I added garlic powder, onion powder and a very, very generous crank of black pepper, and the butter thickened under the stir of a spoonful of flour.

Read more on Salon

After months of painful practice, he learned a new style of playing – using his two good fingers to lay down chords, and adding vibrato to thicken the sound.

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Since Carrie has been married — been there, done that — one would think she wouldn’t be in a hurry to sweep up some other dude’s thickened toenail clippings.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• clot 
• condense 
• congeal 
• curdle 
• swell