English Reference
Verb

deepen

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdipən/ UK /dˈiːpən/ deep·en UK spelling deepened, deepens

v.to make something deeper or more intense. You can use it for physical things like a hole, or for feelings like love and understanding.

v.to increase the depth of something physically or to intensify a quality, emotion, or relationship.


SIMPLE

The workers need to deepen the well to find more water.

CONTEXTUAL

The two countries signed a new trade agreement to deepen their economic ties and cooperation.

COMPLEX

As the investigation continued, the mystery began to deepen, revealing a complex web of secrets that the local authorities had ignored for decades.

Usage

Can be used both transitively (to deepen something) and intransitively (something deepens).

Usage deepen our understanding · deepen their human

The time to talk with teens is now, and these conversations can protect their safety and deepen their human connections.

Phys.org· 13 Aug 2026

Individual European countries have also deepened their own contacts with Kabul.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

From deep + -en.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated