strengthen

American

[strengk-thuhn, streng-, stren-] / ˈstrɛŋk θən, ˈstrɛŋ-, ˈstrɛn- /

verb (used with object)

to make stronger; give strength to.

Synonyms:

support, fortify, reinforce, buttress
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)

to gain strength; grow stronger.

strengthen British

/ ˈstrɛŋθən /

verb

to make or become stronger

"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

Other Word Forms

overstrengthen verb
prestrengthen verb (used with object)
restrengthen verb
strengthener noun
strengtheningly adverb
unstrengthened adjective
unstrengthening adjective

Etymology

Origin of strengthen

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

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.

“We have a system that works. Let’s strengthen it.”

From Salon

Should Carrick manage to steer United into the Champions League, he will strengthen the case for him to stay in charge beyond this season.

From BBC

One precondition for a hike would be that the labor market would have to not only rebound but strengthen, Luzzetti noted.

From MarketWatch

The greenback strengthened to its highest level in more than three months.

From The Wall Street Journal

Natural England only considers wild releases where beavers can support clear positive outcomes - restoring natural processes, contributing to flood management, improving water quality or strengthening genetic diversity.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023