strengthen

[ strengk-thuhn, streng-, stren- ]
See synonyms for: strengthenstrengthenedstrengtheningstrengthener on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make stronger; give strength to.

  2. Phonetics. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring more effort, as from fricative to stop or nongeminate to geminate.

verb (used without object)
  1. to gain strength; grow stronger.

Origin of strengthen

1
First recorded in 1250–1300, strengthen is from the Middle English word strengthnen.See strength, -en1

Other words for strengthen

Other words from strengthen

  • strength·en·er, noun
  • strength·en·ing·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·strength·en, verb
  • pre·strength·en, verb (used with object)
  • re·strength·en, verb
  • un·strength·ened, adjective
  • un·strength·en·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use strengthen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for strengthen

strengthen

/ (ˈstrɛŋθən) /


verb
  1. to make or become stronger

Derived forms of strengthen

  • strengthener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012