Thickened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Thickened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a substance that has become denser or more viscous, often in cooking or scientific contexts. Example: "The sauce thickened as it simmered on the stove, creating a rich and creamy texture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Simmer for 15 minutes, until most of the kidney beans have broken down and thickened the soup, and the spinners are cooked through.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Stir in the pimentón, tomatoes and wine and simmer for 5 minutes or until they have reduced and thickened into a sauce.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Add the coconut milk and palm sugar and simmer for a couple of minutes, then add the peanuts and simmer until slightly thickened.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Simmer until the juice has thickened, then allow to cool. 2 Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6. Roll out the leftover pastry scraps, and cut out discs of about 8-10cm in diameter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And the plot only thickened when I went in search of my favourite Jilly, Polo, where a female hand groping a male crotch seems to have been replaced in newer editions by some dirty knees.

The Guardian - Books

Scoop the mixture into a saucepan with the other ingredients and bring slowly to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. 2 Cook for about an hour, stirring more frequently at the later stages, until the chilli jam has thickened and is a good colour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With Umno facing defeat for the first time since the British left, and with tens of millions of dollars in public contracts and patronage at stake, the plot has thickened in recent days in a sensational manner.

The Guardian - Opinion

The carcass is scrunched in the gleaming screw-press, and the blood-rich juices mixed with wine and cognac, thickened with the bird's liver and poured over thinly sliced breast (the legs come back grilled as the next course).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Finally, on July 1st, the haze appeared at Baghdad and in the Altai mountains, according to a geologist, Ivan Michaelovich Renovantz, who reported unseasonable frosts in Central Asia.By then, back in Europe, the cloud had thickened.

The Economist

Though hundreds of smaller banks face extinction, big banks have thickened their buffers against loss by raising common equity.

The Economist

Even so, as the unkempt forests have thickened, wildfires that do occur have grown alarmingly in intensity, burning hotter, faster and more destructively.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, "thickened" can accurately describe a change in a substance's viscosity or density, especially when detailing experimental results or observations.

Common error

Avoid using "thickened" to describe abstract concepts or situations that don't involve physical thickening. For instance, don't say "the plot thickened" when "became more complex" or "intensified" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Thickened" is as the past participle of the verb "thicken". Ludwig AI confirms its use in describing a state or condition resulting from a process of becoming denser or more viscous, often in the context of cooking or scientific processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

24%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Thickened" functions primarily as the past participle of "thicken", denoting an increase in density or viscosity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing. It's frequently used in cooking, scientific, and geological contexts, as seen in examples from The Guardian, The Economist, and Encyclopedia Britannica. While versatile, avoid misapplication in non-physical contexts. Related alternatives include "became denser" or "grew viscous". Understanding the nuances of "Thickened" will improve precision in both technical and general writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Became denser

Focuses on the increase in density as an alternative to "Thickened".

Grew viscous

Highlights the increase in viscosity, often associated with liquids.

Increased in consistency

Emphasizes the change in texture or form toward a more solid state.

Solidified slightly

Suggests a partial change from liquid to solid state.

Condensed

Describes a reduction in volume and increase in density.

Coagulated

Indicates a change to a thicker or solid state, often in liquids like blood or milk.

Set

Implies a firming or solidifying of a substance.

Congealed

Similar to coagulated, suggesting a thickening and solidifying, often due to cooling.

Became more compact

Focuses on the increased compactness of a substance.

Gained body

Often used in culinary contexts to describe a sauce or liquid that has become thicker.

FAQs

How is "Thickened" used in cooking?

"Thickened" typically describes how a liquid has been made denser, usually through reduction, the addition of starches, or other binding agents, to improve flavor and texture. For instance, a sauce might be "reduced" to achieve a desired consistency.

What's a scientific context where "Thickened" is appropriate?

In scientific contexts, "thickened" describes an increase in density or viscosity. For example, a solution could be "concentrated" by evaporation, causing it to thicken.

What can I say instead of "the plot thickened"?

Alternatives for "the plot thickened" include "the situation became more "complex"", "the mystery "deepened"", or "the stakes "increased"", depending on the intended meaning.

Is it correct to say "the air thickened"?

While "the air thickened" can evoke a sense of increased humidity or tension, it's often more evocative than scientifically precise. More accurate phrases might be "the humidity "increased"" or "the atmosphere became "tense"".