deepen

verb

UK /ˈdiːpən/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	deepen
he/she/it	deepens
present participle	deepening
past tense	deepened
past participle	deepened

1
intransitive if a bad situation deepens, it becomes worse
The economic crisis has deepened.
a deepening conflict between the political rivals
Synonyms and related words
To become worse
worsen
decline
deteriorate
2
intransitive/transitive if a feeling or relationship deepens, or if something deepens it, it becomes stronger
His anxiety deepened when he heard the news.
Both sides are now deepening their commitment to the peace process.
Synonyms and related words
What feelings and emotions do
come over
return
run away with
3
intransitive/transitive if someone’s knowledge or understanding deepens, or if something deepens it, they know or understand more
I’m trying to deepen my understanding of local history.
Synonyms and related words
To learn new skills or information
learn
train
master
4
intransitive/transitive if a mystery deepens, or if something deepens it, it becomes more complicated and difficult to understand
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to make something, difficult to understand
complicate
confuse
obscure
5
intransitive/transitive if water deepens, or if someone deepens it, it becomes deeper
plans to deepen channels in the Port of Southampton
Synonyms and related words
What liquids can do
break
burst
cast up
6
intransitive if a colour deepens, it becomes darker
As evening arrived, the shadows deepened.
Synonyms and related words
To become a different colour
blacken
bleach
bleed
7
intransitive/transitive if a sound deepens, or if someone deepens it, it becomes lower
The man suddenly deepened his voice.
Synonyms and related words
What sound can do and changing sounds
amplify
reverberate
fade