heightened; heightening
ˈhī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈhīt-niŋ
1
a
: to increase the amount or degree of : augment
heighten interest in the book
heighten tensions in the region
b
: to make brighter or more intense : deepen
… slowly rubbing the gold piece … as if to heighten its lustre …—
Herman Melville
Herman Melville
c
: to bring out more strongly : point up
… uses the camera to punctuate and heighten the story.—Stacey Bell
Stacey Bell
d
: to make more acute : sharpen
heighten the contrast on a monitor
2
a
: to raise high or higher : elevate
b
: to raise above the ordinary or trite
heightened prose
3
obsolete
: elate
2
a
: to become great or greater in amount, degree, or extent
b
: to become brighter or more intense
Examples of heighten in a Sentence
The plan will only heighten tensions between the two groups.
This tragedy has heightened our awareness of the need for improved safety measures.
Tensions between the two groups have heightened.
Recent Examples on the Web
Set in London and Spain, the story unfolds across six episodes — Wright directed the first three — and cleverly heightens the tensions sometimes experienced in in-law relationships.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Block’s move heightened concerns about how AI could further upend an already weak labor market; however, there are further dynamics at play, said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
After all, when placed on a marquee, this punctuation mark signifies that a film will contain an exceptional array of excitement, thrills, and shock, heightening our expectations — as well as our disappointment when (as often happens) the hype isn’t delivered.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Assembly Bill 739 proposes heightening scrutiny of management fees by creating Civil Code 5378, requiring HOAs to email requesting members a list of management fees.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heighten
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Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Block’s move heightened concerns about how AI could further upend an already weak labor market; however, there are further dynamics at play, said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
After all, when placed on a marquee, this punctuation mark signifies that a film will contain an exceptional array of excitement, thrills, and shock, heightening our expectations — as well as our disappointment when (as often happens) the hype isn’t delivered.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Assembly Bill 739 proposes heightening scrutiny of management fees by creating Civil Code 5378, requiring HOAs to email requesting members a list of management fees.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Cite this Entry
“Heighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heighten. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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