deepen

present singular third person deepens · participle present deepening · participle past deepened · past deepened

1. transitiveTo make deep or deeper

   They deepened the well by 200 feet.

2. transitiveTo make darker or more intense; to darken

   The event deepened the prevailing gloom.

3. transitiveTo make more poignant or affecting; to increase in degree

   News of her death deepened my sorrow.

4. transitiveTo make lower in tone

   The tuner deepened the tone of the organ.

5. transitiveTo make more thorough or extensive.

   The class deepened my understanding of the subject.

   1 more example

   The AIDS crisis changes day by day, and the pamphlet was completed a year ago. Much remains to be deepened and updated: we recognize that, and would welcome discussion.

   1988 February 21, Nancy Krieger, Rose Appleman, “Knee-jerk Anti-communism”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 31, page 4

6. transitiveTo make more intimate.

   The shared experiences deepened our relationship.

7. transitiveTo make more sound or heavy.

   The hypnotist then proceeded to deepen his trance.

8. intransitiveTo become deeper

   The water deepens as you go toward the middle of the channel.

9. intransitiveTo become darker or more intense

   The crisis deepened in the following weeks.

   1 more example

   We may be pardoned our nostalgia, those of us who can remember the old days, the days before the grouping and before standardisation, when we see, as today we see so often, the derelict and abandoned buildings of what were once railway stations, for the life which they used to enjoy we lived with them. There they stand, today, as the dusk deepens about them, lampless, cold and deserted.

   1953 April, Henry Maxwell, “Abandoned Railway Stations”, in Railway Magazine, page 270

10. intransitiveTo become lower in tone

    His voice deepened with age.

11. intransitiveTo become more thorough or extensive.

    His skill in deciphering the texts deepened with practice.

12. intransitiveTo become more intimate.

    The conversation deepened and they began to truly share.

    1 more example

    He's in the process of breaking up with one boyfriend, who refuses to let their relationship deepen, and courting another, who promises to be somebody with whom he could grow old.

    2001, Susan Stryker, Queer Pulp, page 104

13. intransitiveTo become more sound or heavy.

    The new bed allowed my sleep to deepen.