strengthen

/ˈstrɛŋ(k)θən/

/ˈstrɛŋθɛn/

Other forms: strengthened; strengthening; strengthens

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!

Definitions of strengthen

1. verb

   make strong or stronger
   “This exercise will strengthen your upper body”

   “strengthen the relations between the two countries”

   synonyms: beef up, fortify

   antonyms:

   weaken

   lessen the strength of

   types:

   vitalise, vitalize

   make more lively or vigorous

   ruggedise, ruggedize

   produce in a version designed to withstand rough usage

   substantiate

   solidify, firm, or strengthen

   restrengthen

   make strong again

   brace up, undergird

   make secure underneath

   confirm

   make more firm

   reenforce, reinforce

   make stronger

   buttress

   make stronger or defensible

   brace, stabilise, stabilize, steady

   support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

   batten

   secure with battens

   batten, batten down, secure

   furnish with battens

   buttress

   reinforce with a buttress

   line

   reinforce with fabric

   bolster, bolster up

   support and strengthen

   ballast

   make steady with a ballast

   guy

   steady or support with a guy wire or cable

   mine

   lay mines

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   gain strength
   “His body strengthened”

   antonyms:

   weaken

   become weaker

   types:

   consolidate

   make firm or secure; strengthen

   proof

   make resistant (to harm)

   back

   strengthen by providing with a back or backing

   sandbag

   protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up

   toughen

   make tough or tougher

   bombproof

   make safe against bombings

   bulletproof

   make bulletproof

   child-proof, childproof

   make safe against children

   foolproof, goof-proof, goofproof

   proof against human misuse or error

   fireproof

   make resistant to fire

   weatherproof

   make resistant to bad weather

   harden, season

   make fit

   type of:

   change

   undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
3. verb

   give a healthy elasticity to
   synonyms: tone, tone up

   type of:

   exercise, work out

   do physical exercise