heighten
verb/ˈhaɪ̯.tən/ · [ˈhaɪ̯tn̩]
Etymology From Middle English heightenen, hyghtenen, equivalent to height + -en (verbal suffix).
1
To make high; to raise higher; to elevate.
- Black Bridge, near Machynlleth, is being heightened by one metre in a £3.6 million project to reduce delays caused by flooding.2021 June 2, “Network News: Cambrian Line bridge is raised”, in RAIL, number 932, page 23:
2
To advance, increase, augment, make larger, more intense, stronger etc.
- to heighten beauty
- to heighten a flavor or a tint
4 more examples
- to heighten awareness
- to heighten tension
- the excitement heightened
- “That’s heightened by the impact of climate change,” she added.
- Antonyms
- lessen
- Derived terms
- heightener, heighten up, overheighten, reheighten