English Dictionary

CHEAPEN

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cheapen mean? 

CHEAPEN (verb)
  The verb CHEAPEN has 1 sense:

1. lower the grade of something; reduce its worthplay

  Familiarity information: CHEAPEN used as a verb is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


CHEAPEN (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they cheapen  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it cheapens  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: cheapened  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: cheapened  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: cheapening  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Lower the grade of something; reduce its worth

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

cheapen; degrade

Hypernyms (to "cheapen" is one way to...):

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen (make worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cheapen"):

devaluate; devalue (remove the value from; deprive of its value)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something


 Context examples 


I learned such things then, and they cheapen what I have since learned.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He loved with single heart and refused to cheapen himself or his love.

(White Fang, by Jack London)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Two wrongs don't make a right." (English proverb)

"A good year is determined by its spring." (Afghanistan proverb)

"Fight poison with poison." (Chinese proverb)

"Half an egg is better than an empty shell." (Dutch proverb)



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