DEEPEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does deepen mean? 

• DEEPEN (verb)
  The verb DEEPEN has 4 senses:

1. make more intense, stronger, or more marked

2. become more intense

3. make deeper

4. become deeper in tone

  Familiarity information: DEEPEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEEPEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they deepen    ... he / she / it deepens   
Past simple: deepened   
Past participle: deepened   
-ing form: deepening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make more intense, stronger, or more marked

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

compound; deepen; heighten; intensify

Context example:

This event only deepened my convictions

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

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Cause:

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

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

heat up; hot up; screw up (make more intense)

fan (make (an emotion) fiercer)

enhance; heighten; raise (increase)

amplify (increase the volume of)

sharpen (make crisp or more crisp and precise)

heighten; sharpen (make (one's senses) more acute)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become more intense

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

deepen; intensify

Context example:

His dislike for raw fish only deepened in Japan

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

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

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

build (develop and grow)

redouble (make twice as great or intense)

break open; burst out; erupt; flare; flare up; irrupt (erupt or intensify suddenly)

condense (become more compact or concentrated)

sharpen (become sharp or sharper)

accelerate; quicken; speed; speed up (move faster)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make deeper

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

They deepened the lake so that bigger pleasure boats could use it

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

enlarge (make larger)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

deepening (a process of becoming deeper and more profound)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Become deeper in tone

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change; deepen

Context example:

Her voice deepened when she whispered the password

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

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

Already the white lines in the east were deepening into pink as the archers gathered round the keep and took counsel how to rescue the survivors.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They all tend to deepen the impression upon my mind that the Cunninghams, father and son, had written this letter.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You observe that the scratch on that table is slight at one side, but deepens in the direction of the bedroom door.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thus began the mystery of Keesh, a mystery that deepened and deepened with the passing of the days.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

So, as twilight deepened, gladly and at the same time reluctantly, I brought the Ghost up on the wind.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

This area also encourages greater love as your relationship matures and deepens.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Interactions between the catalyst and the host material need to be deepened as well as studies into the long-term stability of the photocatalyst in the outdoor environment.

(Smog-eating graphene composite reduces atmospheric pollution, University of Cambridge)

An abnormal deepening of a gingival sulcus associated with destruction of the supporting periodontal tissue.

(Periodontal Pocket, NCI Thesaurus)

An abnormal deepening of a gingival sulcus not associated with destruction of the supporting periodontal tissue.

(Gingival Pocket, NCI Thesaurus)

I waited, therefore—but to my ever-deepening disappointment I waited in vain.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)