thickened; thickening
ˈthi-kə-niŋ 
ˈthik-
1
a
: 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
1
a
: 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
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
Curing or drying potatoes thickens their skins, allows minor cuts and abrasions to heal, and makes spuds less likely to rot or shrivel in storage.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165°F and sauce has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Cook, whisking occasionally and adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer, until the broth thickens slightly and the bread is very soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing berries against side of pot, until berries have completely broken down and juices have thickened to jamlike consistency (wooden spoon scraped across bottom should leave clear trail that doesn’t fill in), 10 to 12 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thicken
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Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165°F and sauce has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Cook, whisking occasionally and adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer, until the broth thickens slightly and the bread is very soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing berries against side of pot, until berries have completely broken down and juices have thickened to jamlike consistency (wooden spoon scraped across bottom should leave clear trail that doesn’t fill in), 10 to 12 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thicken
Cite this Entry
“Thicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thicken. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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