strength

American  

[strengkth, strength, strenth] / strɛŋkθ, strɛŋθ, strɛnθ /

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.

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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.

strength British  

/ 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

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strength More Idioms  

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

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Related Words

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

• self-strength noun
• superstrength noun

Etymology

Origin of strength

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

Example Sentences

But this stabilization was due to “relative strength at the move-up and discretionary price points, which offset declining home sizes at the entry-level and spec price points,” the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

My process is to see the strengths and weaknesses of the team that we're playing against.

From Barron's

"He long steered the men's professional golf world and overwhelmed others with his unparalleled strength," he said in a statement on the organisation's website.

From Barron's

The leaders chatted for 10 minutes, exchanging pleasantries and praising each other’s strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

Such is the strength of feeling that a church near Boston has used its Christmas nativity scene to make the point that Jesus was a refugee.

From BBC

Related Words

• clout
• courage
• durability
• energy
• firmness
• fortitude
• health
• power
• stability
• tenacity
• toughness
• vigor
• vitality