reinforce
Americanverb (used with object)
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to strengthen with some added piece, support, or material.
to reinforce a wall.
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to strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel, ships, or aircraft.
to reinforce a garrison.
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to strengthen; make more forcible or effective.
to reinforce efforts.
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to augment; increase.
to reinforce a supply.
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Psychology. to strengthen the probability of (a response to a given stimulus) by giving or withholding a reward.
noun
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something that reinforces.
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a metal band on the rear part of the bore of a gun, where the explosion occurs.
verb
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to give added strength or support to
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to give added emphasis to; stress, support, or increase
his rudeness reinforced my determination
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to give added support to (a military force) by providing more men, supplies, etc
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psychol to reward an action or response of (a human or animal) so that it becomes more likely to occur again
Other Word Forms
- reinforcement noun
- reinforcer noun
- self-reinforcing adjective
- unreinforced adjective
Etymology
Origin of reinforce
First recorded in 1590–1600; re- + inforce, alteration of enforce
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.
These concerns are reinforced by reports of ongoing domestic repression.
From BBC
Digital tools may also support and reinforce positive lifestyle changes.
From Science Daily
On Tuesday, Tod's submitted to a Milan court a list of measures it was undertaking to reinforce its supply chain, including the creation of a platform to better trace supplier activity and expanded audits.
From Barron's
“With inflation concerns easing, Treasuries are regaining traction as a viable hedge during risk‐off episodes, reinforcing the USD’s safe‐haven appeal,” they add.
My condition has reinforced what matters most in my life: my wife, children and grandchildren, my friends, my mind and my mission to deliver ideas that better people’s lives.
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.
