English > strengthen: 3 senses > verb 1, change| Meaning | make strong or stronger. |
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| Pattern | Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something |
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| Examples | - "This exercise will strengthen your upper body"
- "strengthen the relations between the two countries"
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| Synonyms | beef up, fortify |
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| Cause to | strengthen | gain strength |
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| Narrower | batten | Secure with battens |
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| batten, batten down, secure | Furnish with battens |
| brace, steady, stabilize, stabilise | support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace / brace |
| buttress | make stronger or defensible |
| confirm | make more firm |
| reinforce, reenforce | make stronger |
| restrengthen | make strong again |
| ruggedize, ruggedise | produce in a version designed to withstand rough usage |
| substantiate | solidify, firm, or strengthen |
| undergird, brace up | make secure underneath |
| vitalize, vitalise | make more lively or vigorous |
| Broader | change, alter, modify | Cause to change |
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| Opposite | weaken | lessen the strength of |
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| Spanish | consolidar, fortalecer, reforzar |
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| Catalan | consolidar, enfortir, reforçar |
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| Nouns | strengthener | a device designed to provide additional strength |
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| strengthening | the act of increasing the strength of something |
