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
thick·en·er
-k(ə)nə(r)
plural -s
: one that thickens: such as
a
: an apparatus for the sedimentation and collection of suspended solids in industrial liquids
b
: a mechanical device for removing part of the water from slush pulp
Examples of thicken in a Sentence
Verb
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
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
And the plot thickens… as it was buried, interestingly, in a former Roman military settlement, and typically, these were buried in locations infused with the supernatural.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Take our hair care winner, the Xtressé Hair Therapy System, which aims to thicken and repair your strands with a combination of at-home daily rituals and professional, in-office care.
—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
Once the chicken’s done, the leftover juices get thickened and whisked into a quick sauce for drizzling.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for thicken
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show current usage.
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Verb
Mumbai, India — Burning sandalwood thickens the air in a room that’s so exclusive only a vanishingly small number of people are allowed to enter.
—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
And the plot thickens… as it was buried, interestingly, in a former Roman military settlement, and typically, these were buried in locations infused with the supernatural.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Take our hair care winner, the Xtressé Hair Therapy System, which aims to thicken and repair your strands with a combination of at-home daily rituals and professional, in-office care.
—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
Once the chicken’s done, the leftover juices get thickened and whisked into a quick sauce for drizzling.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for thicken
Cite this Entry
“Thicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thicken. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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