deepen

deep|en [ `dipən ] verb

▸ 1 bad situation: get worse

▸ 2 feeling: get stronger

▸ 3 know/understand more

▸ 4 water: become deeper

▸ 5 color: become darker

▸ 6 sound: become lower

▸ 7 become more complex

1. ) intransitive if a bad situation deepens, it becomes worse:

The economic crisis has deepened.

a deepening conflict between the political rivals

2. ) intransitive or transitive if a feeling or relationship deepens, or something deepens it, it becomes stronger:

His anxiety deepened when he heard the news.

Both sides are now deepening their commitment to the peace process.

3. ) intransitive or transitive if someone's knowledge or understanding deepens, or something deepens it, they know or understand more:

I'm trying to deepen my understanding of local history.

4. ) intransitive or transitive if water deepens, or someone deepens it, it becomes deeper:

plans to deepen channels in the Port of New York

5. ) intransitive if a color deepens, it becomes darker:

As evening arrived, the shadows deepened.

6. ) intransitive or transitive if a sound deepens, or someone deepens it, it becomes lower:

The man suddenly deepened his voice.

7. ) intransitive or transitive if a mystery deepens, or something deepens it, it becomes more complicated and difficult to understand