strengthen
/ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/ verb B1- To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify. · strengthen a muscle· strengthen a wall
- To empower; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to enhearten.
- To augment; to improve; to intensify.
- To reinforce, to add to, to support (someone or something) · strengthen an army
- To substantiate; to corroborate (a belief, argument, etc.) · strengthen the cause
- To grow strong or stronger.
He/she/it strengthens · Past strengthened · Past participle strengthened · -ing form strengthening
Verb forms
- Base form
- strengthen
- He/she/it
- strengthens
- Past
- strengthened
- Past participle
- strengthened
- -ing form
- strengthening
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
On the contrary, she spoke of him with such bitterness that she was unconsciously considerably strengthening the case of the police for, of course, if her son had heard her speak of the man in this fashion, it would predispose him towards hatred and violence.
You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can now be presented against him, and all further investigation has served to strengthen it.
“I don’t know whether you think that McFarlane came out of jail in the dead of the night in order to strengthen the evidence against himself,” said Lestrade.
Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case more obscure, have served to enlighten me and to strengthen my conclusions.
Other matches
Learn strengthen in real texts
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