heighten

UK: /ˈhaɪt^ən/ US: /ˈhaɪtən/ ,(hīt′n)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

height•en /ˈhaɪtən/   v. 

1. to increase (the degree of);
   strengthen or intensify: [~ + object]
   to heighten one's awareness.
   [no object]
   The tension heightened in the room.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

height•en  (hīt′n), v.t. 

1. to increase the height of;
   make higher.
2. to increase the degree or amount of;
   augment:
   Cézanne's death heightened the value of his paintings.
3. to strengthen, deepen, or intensify:
   to heighten the plot of a story;
   to heighten one's awareness or appreciation;
   to heighten one's suffering.
4. to bring out the important features of, as in a drawing:
   to heighten a picture with
   Chinese white.

v.i. 

5. to become higher.
6. to increase:
   The tension heightened as the enemy forces advanced.
7. to brighten or become more intense.

• height + -en¹ 1515–25

height′en•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See elevate. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

heighten / ˈhaɪt^ən/ verb

1. to make or become high or higher
2. to make or become more extreme or intense

ˈheightened adjective

ˈheightener noun