Heighten
v.joyful, capableprofessional
What it means
To make a quality, feeling, effect, or level more intense.
Reach for it when describing a deliberate increase without assuming the change is beneficial
The skylight will heighten the sense of space in the narrow hall.
Choose between these
6- everyday
increase
a neutral rise in amount or degree is all that is meant
not when Increase lacks the sense of sharpened perception or intensity often carried by heighten.
- warm
deepen
richness, seriousness, or emotional force grows
not when Deepen implies inward complexity rather than a higher level.
- professional
a signal, voice, or effect gains reach and power
not when Amplification can mean making something louder rather than emotionally stronger.
- professional
the change improves an existing quality
not when Enhance always suggests improvement, while heighten can also magnify risk or anxiety.
- professional
intensify
strength or concentration becomes markedly greater
not when Intensify can sound threatening when the desired effect is gentle.
- literary
sharpen
contrast or awareness becomes more distinct
not when Sharpen emphasizes clarity and edges, not every kind of intensity.
Said against
3- reduce
- diminish
- soften
It naturally appears in
3- heighten awareness
Clear labels heighten awareness of the wetland's seasonal changes.
- heighten the effect
A moment of silence can heighten the effect of the final line.
- heighten interest
The newly found letters heighten interest in the early expedition.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English verb sense: to increase or intensify opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.