deepen
gb/dˈipən/ us/dˈipən/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 7000
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
B1
action
1
make or become physically deeper
To make something deeper, or to become deeper.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to deepen [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use "deeper" (adjective) when a verb is needed. Say "deepen the hole" (verb), not "deep the hole" or "make it more deep" in formal writing.
Visawe
make deeper (Plain descriptive phrase; slightly less natural as a single verb but very clear for learners.)
|
excavate (Focuses on digging earth or rock away, often for building or mining, not just any increase in depth.)
Vinyume
fill in (Describes putting material back into a hole so that it becomes less deep or disappears.)
|
raise (Focuses on lifting the bottom or floor upward so the depth is reduced.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
deepen a hole
|deepen a channel
|deepen a well
|deepen the river
|deepen the trench
Mada
daily life
|nature
|science
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- Heavy rain had deepened the ditch along the road.
- They plan to deepen the harbor so larger ships can enter.
- Over the years, the river has deepened its bed and changed course.
- The miners worked through the night to deepen the shaft.
- We need to deepen the groove slightly so the board will fit.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The workers will deepen the well tomorrow.
- After the storm, the river bed deepened.
- They used a machine to deepen the long hole.
- We must deepen the canal for big boats.
- Dig a little more to deepen the pit.
Kitenzi
B2
action
2
make a feeling or situation stronger
To make a feeling or problem stronger or more serious, or to become stronger or more serious.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to deepen [a problem/feeling]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use "grow" or "become" with a negative noun in unnatural ways (e.g. *"the crisis grew deeper"). While not always wrong, "the crisis deepened" is the most natural choice in news-style English.
Visawe
intensify (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and common in news or academic style.)
|
worsen (Focuses more on something becoming worse or more negative, especially problems or conditions.)
|
heighten (Often used with emotions or awareness; suggests making something stronger or more noticeable.)
Vinyume
ease (Suggests a problem or pain becomes less serious or less strong.)
|
lessen (General verb for something becoming weaker or smaller in amount or intensity.)
|
improve (Opposite when talking about negative situations becoming better instead of more serious.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
deepen a crisis
|deepening divide
|deepening sense of fear
|deepening conflict
|deepening gloom
|deepening mystery
Mada
emotions
|society
|news
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The scandal only served to deepen the public’s distrust of the government.
- Rising prices have deepened the economic crisis.
- The silence deepened as everyone waited for the results.
- Her worries deepened after she read the doctor’s report.
- Tensions between the two countries have deepened in recent months.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The news will deepen people’s fear.
- These new rules may deepen the problem instead of solving it.
- Her sadness deepened when she lost her job.
- The conflict deepened after the attack.
- Bad weather can deepen the feeling of loneliness.
Kitenzi
B2
action
3
make knowledge or relationships stronger
To know something better or be closer to someone, usually by learning more or sharing more.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to deepen [understanding/relationship/ties]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes say "*make your understanding deeper" instead of the more natural verb phrase "deepen your understanding". Use "deepen" with abstract nouns like "knowledge", "awareness", and "relationship".
Visawe
strengthen (Stresses making a relationship or connection more solid; slightly broader than "deepen".)
|
broaden (Focuses on covering more areas of knowledge; not always about emotional closeness or detail.)
|
enrich (Emphasizes adding value or quality, especially to understanding or experience.)
Vinyume
weaken (Describes relationships or connections becoming less strong or less close.)
|
shallow (As a verb, rare but can mean to make something less deep; more often used as an adjective about weak or surface-level understanding.)
|
reduce (General term for making the amount or level of understanding or involvement smaller.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
deepen your understanding
|deepen knowledge
|deepen a relationship
|deepen ties
|deepen engagement
|deepen cooperation
Mada
education
|relationships
|business
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of climate change.
- Travel can greatly deepen your appreciation of other cultures.
- The experience only deepened their friendship.
- Regular meetings have deepened cooperation between the two companies.
- Reading widely helped to deepen her knowledge of modern history.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- This book will deepen your understanding of the topic.
- Living abroad can deepen your knowledge of a language.
- Shared problems often deepen a friendship.
- The project helped deepen ties between the two teams.
- Talking honestly can deepen a relationship.
Kitenzi
B2
action
4
make a color darker or richer
To make a color look darker or stronger, or to become darker or stronger in color.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to deepen [a color/shade]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may overuse "become dark" for all situations. In artistic or descriptive writing, "deepen" is more natural when talking about gradual or deliberate change in color intensity.
Visawe
darken (Very close in meaning; more common in everyday speech for colors becoming less light.)
|
intensify (Focuses on the strength or vividness of a color, often in artistic or technical contexts.)
Vinyume
lighten (Describes a color becoming less dark or more pale.)
|
fade (Describes a color slowly becoming weaker or less bright over time.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
deepen the color
|deepening shadows
|deepening blue
|deepened hue
|colors deepen
|deepened tones
Mada
art
|nature
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- As the sun set, the sky deepened to a rich orange.
- The painter chose to deepen the blue in the background.
- Over time, the stain will deepen in color.
- The shadows deepened as the storm clouds rolled in.
- In autumn, the leaves’ colors gradually deepen before they fall.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The blue of the sea seemed to deepen at night.
- The artist will deepen the red on this part of the wall.
- In the evening, the colors of the sky deepen.
- Her hair color will deepen after a few weeks in the sun.
- The paint will deepen as it dries.
Kitenzi
C1
action
5
make a voice or sound lower
To make a voice or sound lower, or to become lower.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to deepen [a voice/sound]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners often use only "low" as an adjective ("a low voice") and may not know the verb "deepen" to describe how the voice changes over time.
Visawe
lower (General verb for making sound or pitch go down; can also mean reducing volume, not just pitch.)
|
drop (Can describe pitch suddenly going lower; more informal in this use.)
Vinyume
raise (Describes making the pitch of a voice or sound higher.)
|
heighten (More formal; can refer to making pitch or intensity higher.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
deepen his voice
|voice deepened
|deepening roar
|deepened tone
|deepening rumble
Mada
emotions
|arts
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- His voice deepened as he reached his teenage years.
- She deliberately deepened her voice to sound more confident.
- The rumble of thunder deepened and shook the windows.
- His tone deepened when he spoke about his family.
- The engine noise deepened as the plane climbed higher.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- His voice will deepen when he is older.
- He deepened his voice to act like a king.
- The sound of the drum deepened as they hit it harder.
- Her tone deepened when she became serious.
- The noise deepened and became a low rumble.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
deepen
IPA
GB/dˈipən/
US/dˈipən/
Silabi na mkazo
deep - en (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (deep)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: deepen
- 3rd Person Singular: deepens
- Present Participle: deepening
- Past: deepened
Familia ya neno
Semi
deepen a relationship
1/dˈipən ə ɹilˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
make a relationship more close
To become closer to someone emotionally, or to help two people become closer.
Mifano
- Sharing personal stories can deepen a relationship.
- Working on a difficult project together really deepened their relationship.
deepen the crisis
1/dˈipən ðə kɹˈaɪsəs/
fixed phrase
formal
make an existing crisis worse
To make a serious problem or crisis even more serious or difficult.
Mifano
- New trade restrictions could deepen the crisis in the region.
- Cuts to public services may only deepen the crisis facing low‑income families.
deepen ties
1/dˈipən tˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
make connections between groups stronger
To make the relationship or connection between countries, groups, or organizations stronger and closer.
Mifano
- The agreement is expected to deepen ties between the two nations.
- Cultural exchanges can deepen ties between universities around the world.
deepen your understanding
1/dˈipən jˈʊɹ ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ/
fixed phrase
increase how much you understand
To know and understand something more fully and clearly than before.
Mifano
- This course will help you deepen your understanding of data science.
- Reading widely is one of the best ways to deepen your understanding of a subject.