Word
sweeten
Phoneticssweet·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈswitən/
UK/swˈiːtən/
Definition
v. to make something more pleasant or attractive by adding something good to it. You can use this for food, music, or even a deal.
v. to make something more agreeable or attractive by adding a desirable element. Often used figuratively in business or music contexts to describe improving a deal or a sound.
Examples
“The company decided to sweeten the deal by offering a free holiday.”
“The band added a few extra guitar solos to sweeten the sound of their new album.”
“While the initial terms of the merger were unfavorable, the board voted to sweeten the offer by including stock options to ensure the acquisition's success.”
Examples
simple
“The company decided to sweeten the deal by offering a free holiday.”
contextual
“The band added a few extra guitar solos to sweeten the sound of their new album.”
complex
“While the initial terms of the merger were unfavorable, the board voted to sweeten the offer by including stock options to ensure the acquisition's success.”
Real-World Examples
“The JREDC says that while the region is "already a great place to live", the support scheme helps to "sweeten the deal".” Etymology
From sweet + -en. Eclipsed non-native Middle English doucen and endoucen, borrowed from Old French adoucir and endoucir (“to sweeten”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
01. sweeten the pot
02. sweeten up
Domains
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sweeten