heighten

verb

height·​en ˈhī-tᵊn 

heightened; heightening ˈhī-tᵊn-iŋ 

ˈhīt-niŋ

transitive verb

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

c

: to bring out more strongly : point up

… uses the camera to punctuate and heighten the story.

—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

intransitive verb

1

archaic : grow, rise

2

a

: to become great or greater in amount, degree, or extent

b

: to become brighter or more intense

Synonyms of heighten

• intensify
• enhance
• deepen
• strengthen

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

Comfy, sleek, and immediately heightening, this shoe style is perfect for short girls who need office footwear that doubles as dinner heels. —Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026

Energetic Mars also faces Jupiter, heightening today’s urgency. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026

Mangold has a showy falsetto that heightens Noah’s vulnerable longing, but the duets with Cheers’ Allie aren’t lyrically sophisticated enough to provide the relationship with much depth. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026

Disney’s recent deal with OpenAI — which allows Disney characters on Sora 2 — has heightened concerns around that issue. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for heighten

• brighten
• chitin
• frighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• whiten
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

Kids Definition

heighten

verb

height·​en ˈhīt-ᵊn 

heightened; heightening ˈhīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to make or become brighter or greater

heightened the citizens' awareness

2

: to raise high or higher : elevate