From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishheightenheight‧en /ˈhaɪtn/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETCMORE THAN BEFOREif something heightens a feeling, effect etc, or if a feeling etc heightens, it becomes stronger or increases SYN intensify, → strengthen There are fears that the march will heighten racial tension. Increased levels of fat in the diet could heighten the risk of cancer.heighten (somebody’s) awareness (of something) (=make people realize something more clearly) The case has heightened public awareness of the problem of sexual harassment.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
heighten• Trade tends to be protected when international tensions heighten.• The characters have a heightened and highly emotional response to events, actions and sentiments.• Publicity has heightened awareness of the threats to the environment.• Fears of an invasion were heightened by long-range bomb attacks.• Some observers say this is due to a heightened fear of crime.• To heighten his own flow of adrenaline, he ignores the advice of friends who urge him to wear a reserve chute.• Workplace 2000 demands a heightened quantity of leadership, not just a heightened quality.• Progress, as expected, was slight, although everyone left with a heightened sense of urgency about the bargaining ahead.• The divorce heightened speculation about a possible second marriage.• The concentration of labour both facilitated organization among workers and heightened the political significance of labour protest.• McKenna had me look skyward to help release a burst of alpha waves, the ones that make you heighten your awareness.heighten (somebody’s) awareness (of something)• McKenna had me look skyward to help release a burst of alpha waves, the ones that make you heighten your awareness.• This week it has launched the Depression Awareness Week Nationwide campaign to inform and heighten public awareness about depression.• Gary McCaleb, mayor of Abilene, Texas, said Brown could heighten awareness about the importance of city government.• Despite heightened public awareness in the last decade, the need for donated organs still far exceeds the supply.• This will heighten your awareness of little-word buildup, and help you revise quickly.• Police hope the bus advertising campaign will help heighten public awareness of Operation Blade.• Obviously, television has heightened awareness of the sport, but that is only half the story.• Yet the very decision not to touch only served to heighten the awareness of what could happen when they did. 