strengthen

present (v1)

strengthen

past (v2)

strengthened

past participle (v3)

strengthened

present participle

strengthening

3rd person singular

strengthens

1. 1.To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify.

   • 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.

2. 2.To empower; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to enhearten.

   • Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
   • 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.

3. 3.To augment; to improve; to intensify.

4. 4.To reinforce, to add to, to support (someone or something)

   • Each half-section of the battery weighs about eight tons, and the two underframes had to be strengthened to take this weight.
   • 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.

Overall

Uncommon· #3436

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Uncommon

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Word family

• strength