| v. t. | 1. | To make high; to raise higher; to elevate. |
| 2. | To carry forward; to advance; to increase; to augment; to aggravate; to intensify; to render more conspicuous; - used of things, good or bad; |
| Verb | 1. | heighten - become more extreme; "The tension heightened" Synonyms: rise |
| 2. | heighten - make more extreme; raise in quantity, degree, or intensity; "heightened interest" | |
| 3. | heighten - increase; "This will enhance your enjoyment"; "heighten the tension" | |
| 4. | heighten - increase the height of; "The athletes kept jumping over the steadily heightened bars" | |
| 5. | heighten - make (one's senses) more acute; "This drug will sharpen your vision" Synonyms: sharpen | |
| 6. | heighten - make more intense, stronger, or more marked; "The efforts were intensified", "Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her"; "Potsmokers claim it heightens their awareness"; "This event only deepened my convictions" |