enhance

enhance — verb

1. to make something better by adding to its value, attractiveness, or effectivenes

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make something better by adding to its value, attractiveness, or effectiveness, especially when it is already of a good standard.

Example

The new curtains enhanced the warm feeling of the room.

enhance + noun phrase (appearance, feeling)

Andrei added fresh herbs to enhance the flavour of the soup.

Common collocations
  • enhance the quality
  • enhance the value
  • enhance the appearance
  • enhance the experience
  • enhance performance
Synonyms
  • improve

    more general and less formal than enhance; can be used for fixing something bad as well as making something better

  • boost

    suggests a quick increase in amount or level, often temporary; less formal

  • heighten

    used more for emotions, sensations, or awareness; more literary

  • enrich

    focuses on adding valuable content or depth, especially in cultural, educational, or sensory contexts

Antonyms
  • diminish

    to make something seem less or reduce its value

  • detract from

    to make something seem less attractive or impressive

Grammar Patterns

enhance + noun phrase

Usage Note

Unlike improve, enhance usually implies that the thing being changed is already good and is being made even better. It is often used with abstract nouns such as quality, value, reputation, and experience.

Common Mistakes

This medicine will enhance your cold.
This medicine will help your cold get better.
enhance is used for making something good even better, not for fixing something bad.
I enhanced my English last year.
I improved my English last year.
enhance is too formal for everyday personal skill-building and sounds unnatural here.

Word family

  • enhancement
    nounB2
  • enhanced
    adjectiveB2
  • enhancer
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe making something better, but they differ in scope and register. Improve is the most general and neutral — it works for fixing problems and raising quality alike. Enhance is more formal and specifically implies that the thing was already of a good standard and is being made even better. Boost suggests a sudden, often measurable increase in amount, level, or popularity, and has an informal, energetic feel. Heighten focuses on intensifying sensations, emotions, or awareness, as in 'heighten the suspense' or 'heighten your senses.' Enrich adds a sense of deepening or adding valuable content, especially in cultural, educational, or sensory contexts ('enrich the curriculum,' 'enrich the flavour'). In practice: you improve your grades (fixing a problem), enhance your reputation (already good → even better), boost sales (quick measurable increase), heighten the drama (intensify the feeling), and enrich your understanding (add depth).

improve ↗boost ↗heighten ↗enrich ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • to enhance the quality of
  • enhance the value of
  • enhanced by

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old French 'enhaucier' meaning 'to raise, make higher,' which came from the Latin root 'altus' (high). The meaning changed from physically raising something to figuratively making it better by the 16th century.