sweeten

/ˈswiːtn/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈitən] /ˈswiːtn/ (ame, ipa) · [swˈitən] /ˈswē-tᵊn How to pronounce sweeten (audio)/ (ame, mw)

sweeten — verb

  • sweetenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sweetenshe / she / it
  • sweetenedpast simple
  • sweetening-ing form

1. to give food or drink a sweeter taste, often by adding sugar, honey, syrup, or a

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to give food or drink a sweeter taste, often by adding sugar, honey, syrup, or another sweet ingredient

例句

Lotte sweetened the plain yogurt with brown sugar before breakfast.

sweeten + food + with + ingredient

Hassan sweetened his iced tea with honey after the long walk.

同義詞
  • sugar

    more specific because it usually means adding sugar itself

  • flavor

    broader because it can change taste without making something sweeter

  • sweeten up

    more informal and often used in speech

文法句型

sweeten + food/drink

sweeten + noun + with + sweet ingredient

用法筆記

Usually takes the food or drink as the object. The added ingredient often follows with 'with', as in sweeten the tea with honey.

常見錯誤

❌I sweetened more sugar into the tea.
✅I added more sugar to sweeten the tea.
💡'sweeten' takes the tea as its object, not the sugar.

2. to improve an offer, plan, or difficult situation by adding something pleasant o

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to improve an offer, plan, or difficult situation by adding something pleasant or valuable, so people accept it more readily

例句

The airline sweetened the refund offer with two free train tickets.

sweeten an offer with an added benefit

A free museum pass sweetened Emma's weekend plan in the rain.

同義詞
  • improve

    much broader and does not imply adding a tempting extra

  • enhance

    slightly more formal and often used for quality rather than negotiation

  • dress up

    informal and often suggests making something look better on the surface

反義詞
  • worsen

    to make the offer or situation less appealing

文法句型

sweeten + offer/deal/contract

sweeten + noun + with + bonus or benefit

用法筆記

Most often used with offers, deals, contracts, or plans that people may hesitate to accept. The extra advantage usually comes after 'with'.

常見錯誤

❌The company sweetened the workers with higher pay.
✅The company sweetened the offer with higher pay.
💡this sense improves the deal itself; sweetening people belongs to sense 3.

3. to put someone, an attitude, or an atmosphere into a warmer state and make coope

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to put someone, an attitude, or an atmosphere into a warmer state and make cooperation easier, often through praise, gifts, jokes, or other pleasant treatment

例句

Bilal sweetened the building manager with warm praise before the request.

sweeten a person with praise before asking something

A careful apology sweetened the receptionist after the booking mistake.

同義詞
  • soften

    focuses on making someone's attitude less hard or severe

  • win over

    stronger because it suggests gaining clear support

  • charm

    often suggests pleasing someone through personal appeal

反義詞
  • alienate

    to make someone less friendly or less willing to help

文法句型

sweeten + person/group

sweeten + mood/room + with + pleasant gesture

用法筆記

Often takes a person, group, or atmosphere as the object. What does the sweetening is usually praise, a gift, an apology, a joke, or some other pleasant gesture.

常見錯誤

❌She sweetened the contract with compliments.
✅She sweetened the manager with compliments.
💡this sense changes a person's attitude, not the offer itself.