enhance
verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
Enhance Has Latin Roots
When enhance was borrowed into English in the 13th century, it literally meant to raise something higher. That sense, though now obsolete, provides a clue about the origins of the word. Enhance, which was spelled enhauncen in Middle English, comes to us from Anglo-French enhaucer or enhauncer ("to raise"), which can be traced back to the Latin altus ("high") by way of an assumed Vulgar Latin verb inaltiare, which would have been formed by combining the prefix in- with the Latin altus. Although enhance initially applied only to physically making things higher, it developed an additional and less literal sense of "to exalt especially in rank or spirit," and quickly acquired extended figurative senses for raising the value or attractiveness of something or someone.
Synonyms
- ameliorate
- amend
- better
- enrich
- help
- improve
- meliorate
- perfect
- refine
- upgrade
Example Sentences
Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 14 Sep. 2022 Use warm wood tones to balance a crisp white kitchen or to enhance the appeal of deep green and blue tones. Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 Those watching on the Prime Video app on their TVs, phones, or tablets can access on-demand statistics and highlights to enhance the second-screen experience. Joe Reedy, ajc, 13 Sep. 2022 The two countries have also continued to enhance their military cooperation. Keith Zhai, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Of course, Ferrari doesn’t like to call it an SUV, instead referring to this new model as an extension of its sports car lineup with a new form factor meant to enhance versatility and comfort. Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 Krug has long been a proponent of music pairings as a way to enhance its Champagnes. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2022 Over the last two years the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources worked with anglers to develop the 2020-22 Lake Michigan stocking plan to enhance fisheries management in the lake. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 The additional layers of high-tech surveillance adopted in the name of pandemic prevention can be used to enhance the tracking and monitoring of the populace more generally. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English enhauncen, from Anglo-French enhaucer, enhauncer, from Vulgar Latin *inaltiare, from Latin in + altus high — more at old
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
enhance
verb
enhances
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- improves
- enriches
- refines
- ameliorates
- helps
- perfects
- remediates
- remedies
- reinforces
- upgrades
- amends
- betters
- strengthens
- meliorates
- intensifies
- corrects
- boosts
- rectifies
- rehabilitates
- revises
- reforms
- fortifies
- refurbishes
- reworks
- fine-tunes
- emends
- revamps
- hones
- reenforces
- edits
- redrafts
- fines
- rehabs
- polishes
- retouches
- touches up
- beefs (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impairs
- worsens
- harms
- reduces
- hurts
- tarnishes
- injures
- vitiates
- damages
- diminishes
- spoils
- flaws
- lessens
- disfigures
- lowers
- blights
- defaces
- mars
- endamages
- blemishes
Synonyms & Similar Words
- heightens
- intensifies
- deepens
- strengthens
- consolidates
- reinforces
- boosts
- amplifies
- accentuates
- broadens
- sharpens
- augments
- expands
- magnifies
- redoubles
- emphasizes
- lengthens
- maximizes
- extends
- steps up
- accelerates
- enlarges
- enforces
- hastens
- quickens
- stresses
- enlivens
- supplements
- exacerbates
- beefs (up)
- aggravates
- amps (up)
- reenforces
- restrengthens
- points (up)
- jazzes (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reduces
- decreases
- diminishes
- lessens
- weakens
- moderates
- tones (down)
- abates
- subdues
- recedes
- alleviates
- lightens
- wanes
- subsides
- eases
- lets up (on)
- dwindles
- tapers (off)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- improves
- sweetens
- spruces
- enriches
- candies
- ameliorates
- meliorates
- tricks
- embellishes
- dresses up
- soups up
- cosmeticizes
- dolls up