strength

[strengkth, strength, strenth]

noun

1. the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power.

2. mental power, force, or vigor.

3. moral power, firmness, or courage.

4. power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.

5. number, as of personnel or ships in a force or body.

   a regiment with a strength of 3000.

6. effective force, potency, or cogency, as of inducements or arguments.

   the strength of his plea.

7. power of resisting force, strain, wear, etc.

8. vigor of action, language, feeling, etc.

9. 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

10. 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

11. a positive or valuable attribute or quality.

    I was asked to list my strengths and weaknesses.

12. something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance.

    The Bible was her strength and joy.

13. power to rise or remain firm in prices.

    Stocks continued to show strength.

    The pound declined in strength.

strength

/ strɛŋθ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being physically or mentally strong

2. the ability to withstand or exert great force, stress, or pressure

3. something that is regarded as being beneficial or a source of power

   their chief strength is technology

4. potency, as of a drink, drug, etc

5. power to convince; cogency

   the strength of an argument

6. degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, flavour, etc

7. the full or part of the full complement as specified

   at full strength

   below strength

8. finance firmness of or a rising tendency in prices, esp security prices

9. archaic,  a stronghold or fortress

10. informal,  the general idea, the main purpose

    to get the strength of something

11. with ever-increasing success

12. in large numbers

13. on the basis of or relying upon

Other Word Forms

• self-strength noun
• superstrength noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strength¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English strengthe, Old English strengthu; strong, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of strength¹

Old English strengthu; related to Old High German strengida; see _strong

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the strength of, on the basis of; relying on.

   He was accepted by the college on the strength of ardent personal recommendations.

see brute force (strength); on the strength of; tower of strength.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

After getting manhandled by two opponents from the Mountain West Conference, UCLA’s offensive line largely held up against a Penn State defense that was supposed to be the Nittany Lions’ strength.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In its portrayal, strength isn’t about posturing but an individual hallmark that can be shored up and channeled.

Read more on Salon

That strength likely gives the Monetary Authority of Singapore little reason to ease policy, Barclays economists said in a note.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But there is one attribute that gets little attention yet I believe should be at the top: the ability to figure out people’s strengths—and steer them to the jobs that suit them best.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The group is continuing to assess the implications of the redress plan and is confident in its capital strength, it said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clout 
• courage 
• durability 
• energy 
• firmness www.thesaurus.com
• fortitude 
• health 
• power 
• stability 
• tenacity 
• toughness 
• vigor 
• vitality