Word: enhance (verb)

Associations

The word "enhance" means to improve something or make it better, stronger, or more attractive.

• She used a filter to enhance the colors in her photo. (Making colors stronger and more vivid.)
• Good lighting can enhance the appearance of a room. (Make the room look better.)
• The new features enhance the phone’s performance. (Improve how well the phone works.)

A common synonym is "improve," but "enhance" often suggests making something better in a way that adds value or beauty, not just fixing it. For example, you can "improve" a skill by practice, but you "enhance" a skill by adding special techniques.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• improve (to make better generally)
• boost (to increase or raise)
• upgrade (to raise to a higher standard)
• enrich (to add value or quality)

Each word changes the meaning slightly. For example, "boost" often means to increase quantity or power, while "enhance" often means to improve quality or appearance.

Deconstruction

• Prefix: "en-" means to cause or put into.
• Root: "hance" comes from Latin "altus," meaning high or deep. So "enhance" literally means to make something higher or better.

Inquiry

• Can you think of something in your life you want to enhance? How would you do it?
• How is enhancing a skill different from just practicing it?
• Can you find examples where enhancing something might not be good? Why?