thicken

verb

thick·en | \ ˈthi-kən

thickened; thickening\ ˈthik-niŋ

, ˈthi-kə- \

Definition of thicken

intransitive verb

1a : to become dense the mist thickened

b : to become concentrated in numbers, mass, or frequency

2 : to grow blurred or obscure

3 : to grow broader or bulkier

4 : to grow complicated or keen the plot thickens

transitive verb

1a : to make thick, dense, or viscous in consistency thicken gravy with flour

b : to make close or compact

2 : to increase the depth or diameter of

3 : to make inarticulate : blur alcohol thickened his speech

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Examples of thicken in a Sentence

I thickened the gravy with flour. When the mixture thickens, add the remaining ingredients. The fog thickened when night fell.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a large bowl, beat heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla until cream begins to thicken slightly. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Carrot Cookie Cake," 7 Mar. 2019 Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to thicken, about 4 to 5 minutes. — Chelsea Zwieg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Some fantastic pies to make for Pi Day - 3/14," 13 Mar. 2018 The broth in Green Soup is basically a potato soup, rich in onion and garlic, and pureed until it is thickened. — Daniel Neman, Twin Cities, "Four recipes to celebrate the in-season, in-the-moment kale," 20 June 2019 Simmer until pan juices have thickened a bit, about 10 minutes. — Jeanmarie Brownson, chicagotribune.com, "Whether chorizo or brats, you can't mark Father's Day without sausage," 11 June 2019 Heat on medium-low, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until custard slightly thickens and coats the back of a spoon well. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "How to Make Old-Fashioned Eggnog Your Grandma Would Be Proud Of," 18 Dec. 2018 Return to low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly, 7 to 10 minutes (do not boil). — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "100+ Easy Dessert Recipes," 29 Nov. 2018 Add the chicken stock and sherry, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "What’s on the Menu at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards Dinner? Chicken Pot Pie, of Course," 6 Nov. 2018 Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 25 to 30 minutes. — Anna Helm Baxter, Country Living, "Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake," 30 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thicken.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.