strengthen
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/
ipa: /ˈstɹɛnθən/
note: pre-/ŋ/ tensing
ipa: [ˈstɹeɪŋ(k)θən]
rhymes: -ɛŋkθən
Forms: form: strengthens
form: strengthening
form: strengthened
form: strengthened
Etymology: From rare Middle English strengthenen (14th c.), from earlier strengthen (12th c.), where -en is the infinitive ending. Probably the original form was reinterpreted as strength + -en around the time when the infinitive ending was being apocopated in late Middle English.
Senses: examples: text: strengthen a muscle
text: strengthen a wall
text: strengthen one's willpower
text: strengthen one's authority
text: Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,[…]
 With powerful policy strengthen themselves.
ref: c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
text: A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.
ref: 1851, anonymous author, Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog:
text: The viaduct is joined to the embankment by retaining walls, which have been strengthened since they were constructed by the addition of stay bolts extending right through the embankment and fastened outside each retaining wall.
ref: 1952 July 24, W. R. Watson, “Sankey Viaduct and Embankment”, in Railway Magazine, page 487:
glosses: To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify.
examples: text: Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy iii:28:
text: my father and mother strengthened me in this my first impression, saying in my presence, I was intended for some great purpose
ref: 1831, Nat Turner, The Confessions of Nat Turner:
text: "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.[…]."
ref: 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
text: A review of addiction research, published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, suggests mindful meditation strengthens self-control in smokers, even among those smokers who haven’t set an intention to quit.
ref: 2015 July 31, Liza Lucas, “How to beat smoking, other bad habits with better self-control”, in CNN:
glosses: To empower; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to enhearten.
glosses: To augment; to improve; to intensify.
examples: text: strengthen an army
text: In 2019, Trump signed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening HBCUs as well as other minority-serving institutions by providing $255 million annually.
ref: 2024 July 1, Chandelis Duster, “Biden and Trump touted what they’ve done for HBCUs at CNN’s debate. Here’s what their records show”, in CNN:
text: A priority for the new pope will be to strengthen the church’s unity amid differing views and expectations within the institution and growing polarisation in the wider world.
ref: 2025 May 8, Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood, “White smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals election of new pope”, in The Guardian:
glosses: To reinforce, to add to, to support (someone or something)
examples: text: strengthen the cause
glosses: To substantiate; to corroborate (a belief, argument, etc.)
examples: text: my affection seems so superfluous that I often wonder why it should be so strong. But wise or foolish, there it is, strengthening with the years whether I will or no
ref: 1914, Elizabeth Robins Pennell, Our Philadelphia:
glosses: To grow strong or stronger.
Synonyms: word: anneal
word: brace
word: build up
word: confirm
word: enstrengthen
word: fortify
word: harden
word: intend
word: indurate
word: invigorate
word: munite
word: nerve
word: nerve up
word: reinforce
word: roborate
word: steel
word: strength
word: strengthen
word: thicken
Hyponyms: word: beef up
word: enforce
word: instrengthen
word: make for
word: temper
word: tone up
word: prop up
word: shore up
word: restrengthen
Derived terms: strengthen up
strengthener
strengthening plaster
Related terms: word: augment