thickening

1 of 2

noun

thick·​en·​ing ˈthi-kə-niŋ How to pronounce thickening (audio)
ˈthik-
Synonyms of thickeningnext
1
: a thickened part or place
2
: the act of making or becoming thick
3
: something used to thicken

thickening

2 of 2

present participle of thicken

Examples of thickening in a Sentence

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.
Noun
The thickening shampoos and conditioners are formulated with argan oil, biotin, collagen, keratin and saw palmetto. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 During development, the R&D team found that the protein itself could also provide functional properties including emulsifying, binding, and thickening, reducing the reliance on unnecessary ingredients for texture and formulation performance. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 What would have once required three robots engineered separately for monitoring a creek, pond, and lake can now theoretically be produced from a single design, simply by thickening rods. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 Puree firm or extra-firm silken tofu to make a substitute for thickening sauces and soups. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thickening

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thickening was in the 15th century

Rhymes for thickening

See All Rhymes for thickening

Browse Nearby Words

thickener
thickening
thicket
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

thickening

noun
thick·​en·​ing
1
: the act of making or becoming thick
underwent a gradual thickening
2
: a thickened part or place
3
: something used to thicken

More from Merriam-Webster on thickening

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for thickening

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thickening

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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