deepen

verb

deep·​en ˈdē-pən 

deepened; deepening ˈdē-pə-niŋ 

ˈdēp-niŋ

transitive verb

: to make deep or deeper

intransitive verb

: to become deeper or more profound

Synonyms of deepen

• intensify
• enhance
• heighten
• strengthen

Examples of deepen in a Sentence

They deepened the river so that larger boats could sail through.

Age had deepened the lines in his face.

The water deepens toward the center of the river.

Her powerful words deepened our commitment to the cause.

The vacation together deepened their relationship with each other.

The mystery was deepened by her silence.

This class will deepen your understanding of economics.

Living in the country's capital had deepened her knowledge of politics.

Recent Examples on the Web

The plan is to deepen the brand’s presence in key markets and invest in product development and innovation across its signature collections — Prestige, Elysium, Aoud, Isola and Art. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Learning another language can deepen cultural understanding, improve interpersonal communication and encourage people to empathize with other people’s perspectives and experiences. — Karen Stollznow, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

The proposal came as Brussels and Ottawa seek to deepen ties, signaling a significant shift in the EU, which had been lukewarm to Germany's proposal in May for granting an associate membership to Ukraine. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

The same goes for the guys, who reveal new layers of complexity in the movie’s later scenes that deepen our perception of them without betraying or undercutting the ugliness that has come before. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for deepen

• cheapen
• marzipan

Kids Definition

deepen

verb

deep·​en ˈdē-pən 

deepened; deepening ˈdēp-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become deep or deeper