strength
Americannoun
-
strengths
plural
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the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power.
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mental power, force, or vigor.
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moral power, firmness, or courage.
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power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.
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number, as of personnel or ships in a force or body.
a regiment with a strength of 3000.
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effective force, potency, or cogency, as of inducements or arguments.
the strength of his plea.
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power of resisting force, strain, wear, etc.
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vigor of action, language, feeling, etc.
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the effective or essential properties characteristic of a beverage, chemical, or the like.
The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.
- Synonyms:
- potency
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a particular proportion or concentration of these properties; intensity, as of light, color, sound, flavor, or odor.
coffee of normal strength.
- Synonyms:
- pungency, vividness, loudness, brightness
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a positive or valuable attribute or quality.
I was asked to list my strengths and weaknesses.
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something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance.
The Bible was her strength and joy.
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power to rise or remain firm in prices.
Stocks continued to show strength.
The pound declined in strength.
idioms
noun
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the state or quality of being physically or mentally strong
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the ability to withstand or exert great force, stress, or pressure
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something that is regarded as being beneficial or a source of power
their chief strength is technology
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potency, as of a drink, drug, etc
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power to convince; cogency
the strength of an argument
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degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, flavour, etc
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the full or part of the full complement as specified
at full strength
below strength
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finance firmness of or a rising tendency in prices, esp security prices
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archaic a stronghold or fortress
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informal the general idea, the main purpose
to get the strength of something
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with ever-increasing success
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in large numbers
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on the basis of or relying upon
Synonym Usage
Strength, power, force, might suggest capacity to do something. Strength is inherent capacity to manifest energy, to endure, and to resist. Power is capacity to do work and to act. Force is the exercise of power: One has the power to do something. He exerts force when he does it. He has sufficient strength to complete it. Might is power or strength in a great or overwhelming degree: the might of an army.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of strength
First recorded before 900; Middle English strengthe, Old English strengthu; see strong, -th 1
Explanation
Strength is the property of being physically strong (you can do, say, 100 push-ups) or mentally strong (you can calculate percentages in your head while people are shouting at you). Strength has several shades of meaning. The strength of something can be the measure of how much force or pressure it can withstand over time (like a flood wall). Or its potency (like a pesticide). Or its intensity level (like a radio signal). Its fighting capabilities (like an army). Or its specialty: A chameleon's strength is actually in its ability to blend in with its surroundings.
Vocabulary lists containing strength
Physical Education - Introductory
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Physical Education - Middle School and High School
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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.
See Examples For:
Known to physicists as big G, this fundamental number determines the strength of gravitational attraction throughout the universe.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
While rising rates make borrowing money to invest in a business or buy a house more expensive and depresses demand, there are signs that the economy overall has the strength to withstand them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
“We are thinking of him and wish him strength as he receives the care and support he needs.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
"The compassion shown by all of you will never be forgotten by us, and brought us comfort and strength at the darkest time of our lives."
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
He didn’t have the strength to rain.proof it with leaf mould.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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The strengths of the squad are suited to this approach, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens a good long kicker of the ball.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
While leaders with unique strengths sometimes make a difference no one else could have, Mr. Diamond says that many others often would have had similar achievements under the same circumstances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
He also said global economic "megatrends," including growing demand for reliable supplies of critical minerals and energy, were playing to Canada's strengths.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Adel runs her home like she operates at work — she takes on the tasks that leverage her strengths and outsources anything else to her house manager.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
They spoke for some time, and Mrs. Coulter was impressed by their accurate knowledge of the Church’s defenses, and their clear assessment of its leaders’ strengths.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
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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.