enhance
verb
Wendy Perrin 
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Enhance Has Latin Roots
When enhance was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. Enhance, which was spelled enhauncen in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French enhaucer or enhauncer ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Latin altus ("high") by way of an assumed Vulgar Latin verb inaltiare, which would have been formed by combining the prefix in- with the Latin altus. Although enhance initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for raising the value or attractiveness of something or someone.
Examples of enhance in a Sentence
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
Northern Ohio often experiences strong westerly to northwesterly winds over Lake Erie, which can enhance lake-effect snow for cities like Cleveland, Toledo, and Sandusky.
—Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2025
The rubber outsole delivers great traction and flexibility, and the Ghillie lacing system uses loops instead of eyelets to better enhance the overall snugness and stability of the shoe once it's tied.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
The BirdStock organizing team of Merisa Titlow, Arianna Opsvig and Kelsey Martin said the CPPS funds will be used to enhance medical services and safety at BirdStock, including an onsite ambulance, two emergency medical technicians and a nurse or physician.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enhance
Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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enhance
verb
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