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
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The goal is to enhance our lives by sharing safety measures, shielding each other from outside dangers; advancements in intelligence; and natural resources.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
This will enhance the multimodal safety and connectivity between neighborhoods in the area.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Of course, the whole shebang was greatly enhanced by the venue itself, which delivered its mind-blowing mix of colorful, moving visuals across and around its unbelievable vivid and clear 16K resolution wraparound LED screen that dominates the interior of this 366-foot-fall building.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enhance
Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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enhance
verb
