Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

strengthen

/ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.04 in modern English

Syllables: strength-en
IPA: /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

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

Transitive verb

verb

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

Transitive verb

verb

To augment; to improve; to intensify.

Transitive verb

verb

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

Transitive verb

verb

To substantiate; to corroborate (a belief, argument, etc.)

Transitive verb

verb

To grow strong or stronger.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"strengthen a muscle"
"strengthen a wall"
"strengthen one's willpower"
"strengthen one's authority"
"Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,[…] With powerful policy strengthen themselves."
"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."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *strangaz Proto-West Germanic *strang Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂der. Proto-Germanic *-iþō Proto-West Germanic *-iþu Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu Old English strengþu Middle English strengthe Proto-Indo-European *-o- Proto-Indo-European *-nom Proto-Indo-European *-onom Proto-Germanic *-aną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Old English -an Middle English -en Middle English strengthen ▲ Middle English -en Middle English strengthenen English strengthen 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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: strengthenen

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/
British English: /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

strengthens (present, singular) strengthening (participle, present) strengthened (participle, past) strengthened (past)

Derived Forms

enstrengthen instrengthen nonstrengthened prestrengthen restrengthen strengthenable strengthener strengtheningly unstrengthened unstrengthening

Phrases

strengthening plaster strengthen up

Frequently Paired Words

augment

Synonyms

anneal brace consolidate build up confirm corroborate enstrengthen fortify harden intend indurate invigorate

Antonyms

weaken atrophy debilitate enervate enfeeble

Rhymes With

lengthen

Questions

How do you pronounce strengthen?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/.
What does strengthen mean?: To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify.
Where does strengthen come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce strengthen

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Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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