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Definition of deepen verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

deepen

verb
 
/ˈdiːpən/
 
/ˈdiːpən/
Word Family
  • deep adjective adverb
  • deeply adverb
  • deepen verb
  • depth noun
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they deepen
 
/ˈdiːpən/
 
/ˈdiːpən/
he / she / it deepens
 
/ˈdiːpənz/
 
/ˈdiːpənz/
past simple deepened
 
/ˈdiːpənd/
 
/ˈdiːpənd/
past participle deepened
 
/ˈdiːpənd/
 
/ˈdiːpənd/
-ing form deepening
 
/ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
 
/ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. [intransitive, transitive] deepen (something) (into something) if an emotion or a feeling deepens, or if something deepens it, it becomes stronger
    • Their friendship soon deepened into love.
  2. [intransitive, transitive] deepen (something) to become worse; to make something worse
    • Warships were sent in as the crisis deepened.
    • a deepening economic recession
  3. [intransitive, transitive] to become deeper; to make something deeper
    • The water deepened gradually.
    • His frown deepened.
    • deepen something There were plans to deepen a stretch of the river.
  4. [transitive] deepen something to improve your knowledge or understanding of something
    • an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of different cultures
  5. [intransitive, transitive] deepen (something) if colour or light deepens or if something deepens it, it becomes darker
    • deepening shadows
  6. [intransitive, transitive] deepen (something) (to something) if a sound or voice deepens or if you deepen it, it becomes lower or you make it lower
    • His voice deepened to a growl.
  7. [intransitive] if your breathing deepens, you breathe more deeply than usual
See deepen in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee deepen in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
unclear
adjective
 
 
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