height ‧ en /ˈhaɪtn/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ height , heights; verb : ↑ heighten ; adjective : heightened]
if something heightens a feeling, effect etc, or if a feeling etc heightens, it becomes stronger or increases SYN intensify ⇨ strengthen :
There are fears that the march will heighten racial tension.
Increased levels of fat in the diet could heighten the risk of cancer.
heighten (sb’s) awareness (of something) (=make people realize something more clearly)
The case has heightened public awareness of the problem of sexual harassment.
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THESAURUS
■ to make something increase
▪ increase to make something larger in number, amount, or degree:
Being overweight increases the risk of having a heart attack.
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We need to increase the number of police officers on the streets.
▪ put something up to increase prices, taxes etc. Put up something is less formal than increase , and is the usual verb to use in everyday English:
The landlord has put the rent up again.
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They’re always putting up gas prices.
▪ raise to increase something such as prices or taxes, or levels or standards:
The bank has raised interest rates for the third time this year.
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The school aims to raise students’ levels of achievement.
▪ double/triple to increase the amount of something so that it is twice or three times as large:
The airline plans to double the number of passengers it carries by 2015.
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High blood pressure triples the risk of strokes.
▪ boost to increase sales, profits, production etc, especially when they have been lower than you want them to be:
Growing affluence has boosted sales.
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Oil exports boosted the economy.
▪ expand to increase something so that it contains a wider range of things, or to increase the size of a business:
The company plans to expand its retail operations.
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Supermarkets have expanded their ranges to include non-food items.
▪ extend to increase something such as your power or influence, or the number of things you are involved in:
We are hoping to extend the range of services that we offer.
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The company plans to extend its dominance of the world car market.
▪ step up something to increase your efforts or activities, especially to change a situation:
Security has been stepped up following the bombing.
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Local people have stepped up their campaign to prevent a prison being built in their neighbourhood.
▪ heighten to increase a feeling or effect:
The attack has heightened concerns about racism in schools.
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Hunger can heighten the effect that alcohol has on you.
▪ maximize to increase something as much as possible:
Businesses try to maximize efficiency and cut costs.
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To maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy, you should make sure that you eat well.