Heighten (Verb)
Meaning 1
Increase; "This will enhance your enjoyment"; "heighten the tension".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The bright lights of the stage will heighten the overall atmosphere of the concert.
- Certain personality traits can heighten an individual's chances of achieving success.
- Her presence in the room seemed to heighten everyone's sense of excitement and anticipation.
- Reading the book's tragic ending will heighten your emotional response to the series.
- The eerie silence that followed the scream really helped heighten the fear factor in the movie.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
Make (one's senses) more acute; "This drug will sharpen your vision".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The strong coffee helped to heighten her senses and stay awake during the late-night drive.
- Caffeine can heighten alertness and increase concentration in some individuals.
- The meditation practice is designed to heighten our awareness of the present moment.
- The psychedelic experience will heighten your emotions, perception, and sensitivity.
- The darkness seemed to heighten the sound of every snap and crackle in the forest.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
Make more intense, stronger, or more marked; "The efforts were intensified"; "Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her"; "Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness"; "This event only deepened my convictions".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Her love for adventure heightens her sense of thrill when skydiving.
- The intense music heightens the drama in the movie.
- Exercise and a balanced diet can heighten your chances of staying healthy.
- The strong coffee heightens his alertness and wakes him up instantly.
- The suspenseful plot heightens the reader's curiosity about the story's ending.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 4
Make more extreme; raise in quantity, degree, or intensity; "heightened interest".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Her speech was so emotionally charged that it seemed to heighten the atmosphere in the room, making everyone more tense.
- The thriller's climax would heighten the feeling of fear among viewers, leaving a lasting impression.
- The cold war was marked by propaganda efforts that would heighten the mistrust and hostility between nations.
- The spicy food seemed to heighten her senses, allowing her to perceive the flavors in a more intense way.
- Studies show that sugary foods can heighten cravings and energy crashes when consumed excessively.
Meaning 5
Increase the height of; "The athletes kept jumping over the steadily heightened bars".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The construction team is working to heighten the wall surrounding the old castle to improve its stability.
- To increase the city view, the hotel decided to heighten its rooftop bar with the addition of extra floors.
- In preparation for the storm, the local authorities worked to heighten the dune by pouring more sand on top of it.
- The athletes kept jumping over the steadily heightened bars.
- During the festival, giant lanterns were assembled to heighten the massive entrance gate that was built for the celebration.
Hypernyms
Meaning 6
Become more extreme; "The tension heightened".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The competition will only heighten their sense of rivalry and drive to win.
- As a storm approaches, the winds will heighten and make traveling conditions hazardous.
- Her provocative performance was designed to heighten awareness about the issue of censorship.
- Public discontent with the economy is expected to heighten if prices continue to rise.
- Smoking can heighten the risk of heart disease and other serious cardiovascular problems.