Synonyms of thickennext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become dense
the mist thickened
b
: to become concentrated in numbers, mass, or frequency
2
: to grow blurred or obscure
3
: to grow broader or bulkier
4
: to grow complicated or keen
the plot thickens

transitive verb

1
a
: to make thick, dense, or viscous in consistency
thicken gravy with flour
b
: to make close or compact
2
: to increase the depth or diameter of
3
: to make inarticulate : blur
alcohol thickened his speech

Examples of thicken in a Sentence

I thickened the gravy with flour. When the mixture thickens, add the remaining ingredients. The fog thickened when night fell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stir in the hot sauce, honey, salt, garlic powder, and Worcestershire and cook until smooth and thickened slightly, 5 to 6 minutes. ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 Whisk to combine until no clumps remain and mixture is thickened, set aside. Barrett Heald, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026 Add the coconut milk in four or five batches, stirring and letting things bubble vigorously for 3 to 8 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly before adding the next batch. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Temper the egg and cheese mixture with hot pasta water, then toss it with the spaghetti off the heat so the eggs thicken into a silky sauce instead of scrambling. Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thicken

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of thicken was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thicken. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: to make or become thick, dense, or viscous
thicken gravy with flour
2
: to become complicated
the plot thickens

More from Merriam-Webster on thicken

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!