strengthen
Americanverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of strengthen
First recorded in 1250–1300, strengthen is from the Middle English word strengthnen. See strength, -en 1
Explanation
To strengthen is to make something stronger! Rarr. You can strengthen your muscles by working out, or strengthen your brain by learning new words. Anytime you strengthen something, you're making it more resistant, vigorous, or tough. Taking vitamins can strengthen your immune system so you don't get sick. Lifting weights will strengthen your muscles. A powerful lock will strengthen a door. On computers, a reliable firewall will strengthen your virus protection. If something is weak, it needs to be strengthened. Congrats! You just strengthened your vocabulary by checking out this definition!
Vocabulary lists containing strengthen
President Obama's second inaugural address
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Spelling Practice, Unit 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Strengthen consumer protections by requiring every car dealer to disclose the true cost of a vehicle up front.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026
Strengthen and enforce a “betterment policy,” to control and sometimes reject runaway requests by local governments.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023
Strengthen national health systems based on the foundations of public health and universal health coverage and grounded in human rights and gender equality.
From Salon • Sep. 25, 2022
Strengthen current regulatory language, with increased penalty guidelines, requiring veterinarians to perform examination, diagnosis and treatment protocols and strict compliance by trainers.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2019
Enter, Jumala, my vessel, Enter here, O thorn most gracious,30 Strengthen thou the hero's weakness, And the weakling do thou cherish, On these far-extending waters, On the wide expanse of billows.
From Kalevala, Volume I (of 2) The Land of the Heroes by Kirby, W. F. (William Forsell)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
