strengthen
Americanverb (used with object)
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strengthens,
present (3rd person singular)
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strengthened,
past participle, past
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strengthening
present participle
verb (used without object)
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strengthens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
strengthened,
past participle, past
-
strengthening
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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strengthenernoun
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overstrengthenverb
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restrengthenverb
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prestrengthenverb (used with object)
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unstrengthenedadjective
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unstrengtheningadjective
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strengtheninglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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strengthensimple
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strengthenssimple
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have strengthenedperfect
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has strengthenedperfect
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am strengtheningprogressive
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are strengtheningprogressive
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is strengtheningprogressive
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have been strengtheningperfect progressive
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has been strengtheningperfect progressive
Past
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strengthenedsimple
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had strengthenedperfect
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was strengtheningprogressive
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were strengtheningprogressive
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had been strengtheningperfect progressive
Future
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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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:
ByteDance in response said it was taking steps to strengthen its safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of IP or likeness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Defence spending will account for more than three percent of GDP, "demonstrating Taiwan's resolve to strengthen its self-defence capabilities", Lai said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Yoga can also help strengthen the muscles around your joints and improve your overall flexibility.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
It can get more awkward for a country to artificially strengthen a currency than to weaken it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The act of eating was a comfort to his shrunken belly, although a false one—the clover wouldn’t strengthen him.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
“The Roth-conversion opportunity was always the best use case for funding these accounts, aside from the free $1,000. This new guidance definitely strengthens that case,” said Jon Lapp of Haven Financial Advisors.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
“The transaction strengthens Air Canada’s financial position by unlocking value from Aeroplan while retaining full operational control,” said John Di Bert, the airline’s chief financial officer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The researchers say they still do not know exactly how APOE2 stabilizes the nuclear envelope and strengthens DNA repair.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
The agreement "strengthens Europe's AI infrastructure while helping Microsoft meet growing demand for cloud and AI services" on the continent, the two companies said in a joint statement.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Goblin-made armor does not require cleaning, simple girl. Goblins’ silver repels mundane dirt, imbibing only that which strengthens it.”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said Thursday that El Niño has strengthened in the past month, and there’s about a seven-in-10 chance it will be the strongest such pattern since 1950.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The appeal of GPUs has also strengthened as the chips prove that their useful lives are significantly longer than the five-year depreciation schedule that many had been assuming.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
This summer, Slegers has strengthened her hand with seven new players, including full-back Ona Batlle, Caldentey's compatriot, and England dynamo Georgia Stanway to stiffen midfield.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Manufacturing growth could be revised higher after factory output strengthened in June, UOB Senior Economist Alvin Liew said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
I push aside the curtains and see the snowstorm has strengthened to a full-out blizzard.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
"Taken together, the data suggest that US economic momentum may be losing some steam, strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve could leave rates unchanged in September."
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
With the departure of All-American Makai Lemon and fellow receiver Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL, Maiava has focused on strengthening his connection with his current group of receivers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The company has benefited from investments in infrastructure to train cutting-edge AI models, strengthening networks and general equipment refreshes in American corporations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
He reiterated that his missions were "making life more affordable, strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure opportunity reaches every corner of our state".
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
By strengthening his forces at the places where he knew that Howe was about to attack, the master of deception made it look as though reinforcements had arrived.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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.
