verb
sweeten
SWEE-tuhn
Sweeten (verb) means to make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener. Example: “She sweetened her coffee with a spoonful of sugar.”
verb
1
To make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener.
"She sweetened her coffee with a spoonful of sugar."
2
To make an offer or deal more appealing.
"The company sweetened the deal by throwing in free shipping."
How to use sweeten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo add sugar (or similar) to something, or to make a deal or offer more attractive.
Common pairings
sweeten the deal
sweeten the pot
sweeten your coffee
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sweetens
- Past tense
- sweetened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ her coffee with a spoonful of sugar.
Etymology
From "sweet" plus the "-en" verb-forming ending.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sweeten
See all rhymes for sweeten →Frequently asked questions
What does “sweeten” mean?
The word “sweeten” means to make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener. In plain terms, to add sugar (or similar) to something, or to make a deal or offer more attractive.
How do you pronounce “sweeten”?
“Sweeten” is pronounced SWEE-tuhn (/ˈswiːtən/ in IPA).
How do you use “sweeten” in a sentence?
Here is “sweeten” used in a sentence: “She sweetened her coffee with a spoonful of sugar.”
What is the opposite of “sweeten”?
The opposite of “sweeten” — its antonyms — is sour.
What part of speech is “sweeten”?
“Sweeten” is a verb.
How many meanings does “sweeten” have?
“Sweeten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener.
