# heighten

/ˈhaɪtən/ (US) · /hˈaɪtən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heighten
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to raise physically

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to make something higher in a physical way.

For teachers: to increase the physical height or elevation of an object.

- The builders decided to heighten the garden wall to give the owners more privacy.
- The architect proposed to heighten the ceiling in the lobby to create a more grand and welcoming entrance for guests.

Usage: Transitive verb requiring a direct object.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'raise' or 'make higher' is much more common for physical objects; 'heighten' is almost exclusively reserved for abstract intensification.

## Examples

- The dramatic music helps to heighten the tension in the movie.
- The government increased security patrols to heighten public safety during the international summit.
- The author uses sensory details to heighten the reader's immersion, making the fictional landscape feel as tangible as the world outside the book.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.