CHEAPEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cheapen mean? 

• CHEAPEN (verb)
  The verb CHEAPEN has 1 sense:

1. lower the grade of something; reduce its worth

  Familiarity information: CHEAPEN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHEAPEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they cheapen    ... he / she / it cheapens   
Past simple: cheapened   
Past participle: cheapened   
-ing form: cheapening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lower the grade of something; reduce its worth

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

cheapen; degrade

Hypernyms (to "cheapen" is one way to...):

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen (make worse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cheapen"):

devaluate; devalue (remove the value from; deprive of its value)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

I learned such things then, and they cheapen what I have since learned.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He loved with single heart and refused to cheapen himself or his love.

(White Fang, by Jack London)