/ ˈdiːpən; NAmE / verb
1.
if an emotion or a feeling deepens , or if sth deepens it, it becomes stronger :
[ v ]
Their friendship soon deepened into love.
[also vn ]
2.
to become worse; to make sth worse :
[ v ]
Warships were sent in as the crisis deepened.
a deepening economic recession
[also vn ]
3.
[ v ] to become deeper; to make sth deeper :
[ v ]
The water deepened gradually.
His frown deepened.
[ vn ]
There were plans to deepen a stretch of the river.
4.
[ vn ] to improve your knowledge or understanding of sth :
an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of different cultures
5.
[ v , vn ] if colour or light deepens or if sth deepens it, it becomes darker :
deepening shadows
6.
if a sound or voice deepens or if you deepen it, it becomes lower or you make it lower :
[ v ]
His voice deepened to a growl.
[also vn ]
7.
[ v ] if your breathing deepens , you breathe more deeply than usual