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
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
The Freedom Shield exercises aim to enhance interoperability, reinforce combined defense posture, and increase overall combat readiness, according to the US military.
—Soo-Hyang Choi, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Turkey has been further enhancing its border defenses to be able to respond to a potential influx of people fleeing unrest after mass antigovernment protests in Iran were met by a brutal crackdown in January that left thousands dead.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Paneled interiors in contrasting colors and sumptuous drapery create rooms within rooms, with signature Six Bells bedding atop Ostermoor mattresses only further enhancing the charm.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 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 10 Mar. 2026.
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enhance
verb
