Cool MateHeighten vs Increase
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Heighten
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Increase
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Increase
| Heighten | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪtn/","/ˈhaɪtnz/","/ˈhaɪtnd/","/ˈhaɪtnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪtn/","/ˈhaɪtnz/","/ˈhaɪtnd/","/ˈhaɪtnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something stronger or more intense. | To make something larger in amount or size. |
| Example | Tension has heightened after the recent bomb attack. | We need to increase our budget for the project. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | dramatically, greatly, further, serve to | considerably, dramatically, drastically, be expected to, be likely to, by, from, in |
| Antonyms | lower, reduce, diminish | decrease, reduce, diminish |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hasten' — meaning to speed up., Using 'heighten' with an incorrect noun (e.g., 'heighten a person' instead of 'heighten awareness'). | Using 'increases' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'increase' with 'decrease' which has the opposite meaning., Incorrectly forming the past tense as 'increased' when it should be 'increased' without a change. |
| Usage notes | Use 'heighten' in contexts where you want to emphasize an increase in sensation or effect. It's appropriate for formal and neutral contexts but may feel out of place in casual conversations. | Use 'increase' in contexts involving growth, improvement, or enhancement. It is appropriate for both spoken and written English, but avoid in overly casual conversations where simpler words like 'go up' might be preferred. |
Frequently asked questions: Heighten vs Increase
What's the difference between Heighten and Increase?
Heighten: To make something stronger or more intense. Increase: To make something larger in amount or size.
Which is more common: Heighten and Increase?
Increase is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Heighten and Increase?
Heighten is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Heighten and Increase the same CEFR level?
Heighten: C1, Increase: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Heighten and Increase?
Heighten: verb, Increase: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Heighten: Tension has heightened after the recent bomb attack. Increase: We need to increase our budget for the project.
Can I use Heighten and Increase interchangeably?
Not always. Heighten and Increase are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.