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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.
Synonyms
Examples of enhance in a Sentence
Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2024
They’re often marketed as quick solutions for boosting energy, fueling during a pre-workout and enhancing alertness.
—Eliza Cheng, Contributor, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2024
In this example, knowledge-sharing enhances productivity by getting new hires up to speed in a more efficient manner.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024
The Rookwood Commons & Pavilion has further enhanced its shopping experience.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enhance 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enhance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Enhance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enhance. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.
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enhance
verb
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