How Do You Spell HEIGHTEN?

Pronunciation: [hˈa͡ɪtən] (IPA)

The word "heighten" is spelled with the letter combination "eight", which is pronounced as /eɪt/. The "h" in the beginning is silent, so the word is pronounced as /ˈhaɪtən/. The "ht" combination is a bit unusual in English spelling, but it helps to emphasize the height aspect of the word. The suffix "-en" typically means "to become", so "heighten" refers to the act of becoming higher or more intense. The spelling of this word may take some practice to master, but it is a useful word to know.

HEIGHTEN Meaning and Definition

  1. Heighten is a verb that refers to the act of increasing or intensifying something, whether it is a physical sensation, an emotional state, or a situation. When something is heightened, it is elevated in degree, intensity, or importance. It often implies an enhancement or amplification of an existing condition, rather than the creation of something entirely new.

    In a physical sense, heightening can involve intensifying the sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, or hearing. For example, adding chili powder to a dish heightens its spiciness, while turning up the volume on a sound system heightens the auditory experience.

    In an emotional sense, heightening can involve intensifying feelings such as excitement, happiness, fear, or anger. For instance, receiving good news may heighten one's joy, while a frightening experience may heighten one's fear.

    In a situational sense, heightening can involve increasing the level of tension, drama, or importance in a given circumstance. This can happen in various contexts, such as in a story, a film, or a political situation. For example, a filmmaker may heighten the suspense in a scene to keep the audience engaged, or a journalist may heighten the significance of a particular event in their reporting.

    Overall, heighten encompasses the idea of intensification, enhancement, or amplification of a specific aspect, be it sensory, emotional, or situational, thereby accentuating its impact or effect.

  2. To raise higher; to increase; to improve; to aggravate.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for HEIGHTEN *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for HEIGHTEN

Etymology of HEIGHTEN

The word "heighten" comes from the combination of two separate words: "height" and the suffix "-en".

The term "height" has its origins in the Old English word "hēah", which corresponds to "high" or "tall". Over time, "hēah" evolved into "height" in Middle English, referring to the measurement from base to top or the distance between the lowest and highest points of something.

The suffix "-en" is a common suffix in English that often indicates a process of making or causing something. It can be traced back to the Old English "-ian" or "-en", which had similar functions as a verbal ending.

Therefore, combining the word "height" with the suffix "-en" results in the word "heighten", meaning to make something higher, increase its intensity or enhance its quality.

Similar spelling words for HEIGHTEN

Conjugate verb Heighten

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have heightened
you would have heightened
he/she/it would have heightened
we would have heightened
they would have heightened
I would have heighten
you would have heighten
he/she/it would have heighten
we would have heighten
they would have heighten

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been heightening
you would have been heightening
he/she/it would have been heightening
we would have been heightening
they would have been heightening

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would heighten
you would heighten
he/she/it would heighten
we would heighten
they would heighten

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be heightening
you would be heightening
he/she/it would be heightening
we would be heightening
they would be heightening

FUTURE

I will heighten
you will heighten
he/she/it will heighten
we will heighten
they will heighten

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be heightening
you will be heightening
he/she/it will be heightening
we will be heightening
they will be heightening

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have heightened
you will have heightened
he/she/it will have heightened
we will have heightened
they will have heightened

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been heightening
you will have been heightening
he/she/it will have been heightening
we will have been heightening
they will have been heightening

IMPERATIVE

you heighten
we let´s heighten

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to heighten

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was heightening
you were heightening
he/she/it was heightening
we were heightening
they were heightening

PAST PARTICIPLE

heightened

PAST PERFECT

I had heightened
you had heightened
he/she/it had heightened
we had heightened
they had heightened

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been heightening
you had been heightening
he/she/it had been heightening
we had been heightening
they had been heightening

PRESENT

I heighten
you heighten
he/she/it heightens
we heighten
they heighten

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am heightening
you are heightening
he/she/it is heightening
we are heightening
they are heightening

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

heightening

PRESENT PERFECT

I have heightened
you have heightened
he/she/it has heightened
we have heightened
they have heightened

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been heightening
you have been heightening
he/she/it has been heightening
we have been heightening
they have been heightening

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it heighten

SIMPLE PAST

I heightened
you heightened
he/she/it heightened
we heightened
they heightened

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