reinforce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to strengthen with some added piece, support, or material.
to reinforce a wall.
-
to strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel, ships, or aircraft.
to reinforce a garrison.
-
to strengthen; make more forcible or effective.
to reinforce efforts.
-
to augment; increase.
to reinforce a supply.
-
Psychology. to strengthen the probability of (a response to a given stimulus) by giving or withholding a reward.
noun
-
something that reinforces.
-
a metal band on the rear part of the bore of a gun, where the explosion occurs.
verb
-
to give added strength or support to
-
to give added emphasis to; stress, support, or increase
his rudeness reinforced my determination
-
to give added support to (a military force) by providing more men, supplies, etc
-
psychol to reward an action or response of (a human or animal) so that it becomes more likely to occur again
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reinforce
First recorded in 1590–1600; re- + inforce, alteration of enforce
Explanation
To reinforce means to make stronger. You can reinforce your roof by putting some extra supports under it. Besides a physical structure, there are many things you can reinforce. If you want to reinforce a message, you can say it louder, rephrase and repeat it or give examples of what you expect. You use dog biscuits to reinforce certain behaviors in your dog. Bad experiences will reinforce your fears, good ones your hopes. And when military leaders reinforce their troops, they send additional soldiers to the front.
Vocabulary lists containing reinforce
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The findings also reinforce the idea that aging affects multiple systems in the body at the same time, including metabolism, immune responses, and cellular communication pathways.
From Science Daily • May 16, 2026
The better strategy is to reinforce the leverage Washington already holds.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
This strategic shift should reinforce the company’s market leadership and competitive advantage via a more comprehensive service offering.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Most cabinet ministers have been circling the wagons, taking to the TV studios to reinforce his message that Sir Keir will not be walking away from Number 10 and tweeting support for him.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
My daughter, as she grew, was learning to use her voice, discovering her own ways to reinforce the boundaries she needed.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
