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Synonyms

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

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

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Conjugated Forms

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Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of strengthen

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

Explanation

To strengthen is to make something stronger! Rarr. You can strengthen your muscles by working out, or strengthen your brain by learning new words. Anytime you strengthen something, you're making it more resistant, vigorous, or tough. Taking vitamins can strengthen your immune system so you don't get sick. Lifting weights will strengthen your muscles. A powerful lock will strengthen a door. On computers, a reliable firewall will strengthen your virus protection. If something is weak, it needs to be strengthened. Congrats! You just strengthened your vocabulary by checking out this definition!

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Vocabulary lists containing strengthen

President Obama's second inaugural address

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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.

See Examples For:

strengthen strengthens strengthened strengthening

Here are four of Burbank’s favorite static and dynamic exercises to help you strengthen your balance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The fact that this issue first arose last year should strengthen his case, not weaken it.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

After winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, Arteta has moved to strengthen his midfield with the signing of £75m Bruno Guimaraes.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

More observations will be needed to strengthen that interpretation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

She squinted as if determined to strengthen her resolve about this.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

Tai chi strengthens the lower-body and builds postural and core muscles — the body’s deep stabilizing muscles — though it does so gently, over time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

This repeated circulation strengthens the light at particular frequencies.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

“We believe it strengthens their ability to fight in a high intensity, communications-limited environment,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

“The deal strengthens AMD’s strategic partnership, competitive positioning, and long-term revenue opportunities,” Hendi Susanto, a portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, said in emailed comments regarding Anthropic.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Appealing to authority—whether by quoting a commonplace or the words of a named source— always strengthens an argument.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

The government said the National Planning Policy Framework, which was updated yesterday, included a "strengthened approach to intentional unauthorised development".

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said Thursday that El Niño has strengthened in the past month, and there’s about a seven-in-10 chance it will be the strongest such pattern since 1950.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

The appeal of GPUs has also strengthened as the chips prove that their useful lives are significantly longer than the five-year depreciation schedule that many had been assuming.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Manufacturing growth could be revised higher after factory output strengthened in June, UOB Senior Economist Alvin Liew said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

For some reason this reply strengthened Abel’s belief in himself.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

The government is looking at strengthening national planning policy on "intentional unauthorised development", particularly for retrospective planning applications.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Southeast Asia's biggest economy has long battled corruption in its public and private sectors despite strengthening anti-graft laws, creating special investigative commissions and arresting several high profile people.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

With the departure of All-American Makai Lemon and fellow receiver Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL, Maiava has focused on strengthening his connection with his current group of receivers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The company has benefited from investments in infrastructure to train cutting-edge AI models, strengthening networks and general equipment refreshes in American corporations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

But it served his purpose of getting prison reform on the public agenda and strengthening his hand for the next phase of his campaign.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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