Deepen
/ˈdiːpən/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo make something greater in intensity, significance, or degree; to become more profound or extreme.
/ˈdiːpən/
To make something more profound or intense.
The artist's use of color deepened the emotional impact of the painting.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're talking to a friend and you start to understand them even better than before. To deepen something means to make it feel more important or strong, like a friendship that's getting closer.
👶 For kids: To make something more, like when you dig a hole deeper or make your friendship stronger.
More Examples
Their shared experiences have deepened their bond.
The economic crisis deepened the recession's impact.
How It's Used
"The novel deepens the reader's understanding of human nature."
"Therapy can deepen self-awareness."
"The company aims to deepen its market penetration."
To make something more profound physically, to make something more deep or lower.
/ˈdiːpən/
To make something more physically profound.
They decided to deepen the swimming pool.
💡 Simply: Imagine digging a hole to plant a tree. To deepen means to make that hole go farther down into the ground.
👶 For kids: To make something go down farther, like digging a hole.
More Examples
The miners needed to deepen the mine shaft.
I need to deepen the hole to put the post in.
How It's Used
"She decided to deepen the planting bed for the rose bushes."
"They needed to deepen the foundation of the building."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old English *dēopan (verb), derived from the adjective *dēop (deep). It developed through the addition of the suffix -en, which turns adjectives into verbs.
The word 'deepen' has been in use since Old English, initially referring primarily to the physical making something deeper, but evolving to encompass abstract meanings.
Memory tip
Think of making a well DEEPER. The action makes it more.
Word Origin
"To make deep"