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• harden
  harden

  verb (used with object)

  to make hard or harder.
• Harden
  Harden

  noun

  Sir Arthur, 1865–1940, English biochemist: Nobel Prize 1929.

harden

¹ American  

[hahr-dn] / ˈhɑr dn /

verb (used with object)

1. to make hard or harder.

   to harden steel.

   Synonyms:

   ossify, petrify, indurate, solidify

   Antonyms:

   soften

2. to make pitiless or unfeeling.

   to harden one's heart.

3. to make rigid or unyielding; stiffen.

   The rigors of poverty hardened his personality.

4. to strengthen or confirm, especially with reference to character, intentions, feelings, etc.; reinforce.

   Synonyms:

   nerve, brace, steel, fortify

   Antonyms:

   weaken

5. to make hardy, robust, or capable of endurance; toughen.

6. Military. to reinforce the structure of (a military or strategic installation) to protect it from nuclear bombardment.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become hard or harder.

2. to become pitiless or unfeeling.

3. to become rigid or unyielding; stiffen.

   His personality hardened over the years.

4. to become confirmed or strengthened.

   His resistance hardened.

5. to become inured or toughened.

   The troops hardened under constant fire.

6. Commerce. (of a market, prices, etc.)

   1. to cease to fluctuate; firm.

      When the speculators withdrew from the market, the prices hardened.

   2. to rise higher.

Harden ² American  

[hahr-dn] / ˈhɑr dn /

noun

1. Sir Arthur, 1865–1940, English biochemist: Nobel Prize 1929.

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harden ¹ British  

/ ˈhɑːdən /

verb

1. to make or become hard or harder; freeze, stiffen, or set

2. to make or become more hardy, tough, or unfeeling

3. to make or become stronger or firmer

   they hardened defences

4. to make or become more resolute or set

   hardened in his resolve

5. (intr) commerce

   1. (of prices, a market, etc) to cease to fluctuate

   2. (of price) to rise higher

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harden ² British  

/ ˈhɑːdən /

noun

1. a rough fabric made from hards

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Other Word Forms

• hardenability
  noun
• hardenable
  adjective
• overharden
  verb
• preharden
  verb (used with object)
• reharden
  verb
• unharden
  verb (used with object)
• unhardenable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of harden

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at hard, -en ¹

Example Sentences

Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and James Harden scored 18.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

By some miracle, James Harden was available to them in a trade—and Cleveland pounced.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Harden may be one of the greatest players ever to grace the hardwood in the regular season.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

“We’re definitely confident about where we are,” Harden insisted after the Cavaliers’ Game 4 loss.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

“Madam, Mrs. Harden says she has sent up the usual quantity.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë