Word
heighten
Phoneticsheight·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhaɪtən/
UK/hˈaɪtən/
Definitions
01to increase intensity
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to make a feeling or a situation stronger or more intense.
v. to increase the degree or intensity of a state, emotion, or quality. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'tension', 'awareness', or 'senses'.
“The scary music in the movie helped to heighten the suspense.”
“The recent series of security breaches has served to heighten public concern regarding the safety of personal data stored on cloud servers.”
Usage
Commonly used with abstract nouns like 'awareness', 'tension', 'anxiety', or 'security'.
Teaching tip
While it can literally mean 'to make higher', modern usage is almost exclusively figurative for increasing intensity.
02to make physically higher
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to make something physically higher or taller.
v. to increase the physical height of a structure or object.
Español:elevar
“The workers had to heighten the garden wall to keep the deer out.”
“The architects decided to heighten the ceiling in the lobby to create a more imposing entrance for visitors.”
Usage
Often replaced by 'raise' or 'make higher' in everyday speech.
Teaching tip
This literal sense is quite rare in modern English; 'raise' is much more common for physical objects.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “heighten” in context.
Verb
01. heighten public awareness
“The campaign aims to heighten public awareness regarding the risks of climate change.”
verb + adj + noun
02. heighten the drama
“The director used low lighting and a haunting soundtrack to heighten the drama of the final scene.”
verb + adj + noun
03. heighten the risk of infection
“Poor sanitation in the camp will significantly heighten the risk of infection for the refugees.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
04. heighten the sense of urgency
“The looming deadline served to heighten the sense of urgency among the team members.”
verb + adj + noun
05. heighten the tension
“The sudden arrival of the police only served to heighten the tension in the room.”
verb + adj + noun
Adverb
06. further heighten the anxiety
“The conflicting reports from the news outlets further heightened the anxiety of the local residents.”
adv + verb
07. greatly heighten the effect
“Adding fresh herbs at the end of the cooking process will greatly heighten the effect of the spices.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Invasive meningococcal disease tend to peak in October to November each year, which further heightens the risk.” “The outbreak is still not under control and is taking place in a conflict zone with very mobile populations – heightening the need for a vaccine to help stop the spread of disease.” “Great for heightening drama, terrible for addressing the country's immediate difficulties.” Etymology
From Middle English heightenen, hyghtenen, equivalent to height + -en (verbal suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/heighten
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0