Heighten

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Heighten

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

verb

Pronunciation

HY-tun  /ˈhaɪt(ə)n/

Definition

To make or become higher; to increase the intensity or degree of something; to enhance or intensify an effect, emotion, or awareness; to elevate in position or status.

Plain meaning

To heighten means to increase or intensify — to heighten tension is to make tension greater; to heighten awareness is to make people more conscious of something; to heighten a drama is to make its emotional impact more intense. It can also mean to literally raise the physical height of something.

Register

Neutral to slightly formal. Heighten is used in journalistic, literary, and academic contexts. It is slightly more elevated than increase or intensify — the word implies that what is being increased is already at a notable level and is being raised further. Heightened state, heightened tension, heightened awareness are standard journalistic phrases.