sweeten

Word family

sweet·en /ˈswiːtn/ verb

1 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]SWEET to make something sweeter, or become sweeter （使）变甜；加糖于

Sweeten the mixture with a little honey.

往混合料里加点蜂蜜。

2 [transitiveT] (also sweeten somebody ↔ up) informalPERSUADE to try to persuade someone to do what you want, by giving them presents or money or promising them something 〔通过送礼物、金钱或作出许诺〕笼络，讨好

a cash bonus to sweeten the deal

疏通交易的奖励金

→ sweetener(2)

3 [transitiveT] literaryKIND to make someone kinder, gentler etc 使和蔼；使温和；使温柔

Old age had not sweetened her.

上了年纪并没让她变得平和。

→ sweeten the pill at pill1(3)

Examples from the Corpus

sweeten• Sprinkle sugar onto the cooked fruit to sweeten it.• Mattel Inc. is expected to sweeten its offer.• a can of sweetened milk• The good light of it came down through the curve of the windscreen, sweetening my bitterness.• Probably honey was used originally to sweeten the apples instead of sugar.• A delivery of butter pecan or Neapolitan might sweeten the deal.• Add just enough sugar to sweeten the fruit slightly.• To sweeten the pill, the government will try to boost the flagging economy in various ways.• Special offers sweeten the pot for those who wish to depart.• They sweeten the spring air of the Great Plains and the Northwest.• They are harvested after frost, the cold sweetening their flavor.• Stir a little honey in to sweeten when ready to eat.

From Longman Business Dictionary

sweetensweet·en /ˈswiːtn/ verb [transitiveT]

to make an offer, suggestion etc seem more attractive in order to encourage someone to accept it

The airlinesweetened itsoffer to $235 million.

The British auto maker has sweetened its customer incentives by adding credit facilities.

sweet·en verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus