strengthen

USAGE SUMMARY

"strengthen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea of making something stronger, either physically or metaphorically. For example: "Gina's dedication to her studies strengthened her belief that she could succeed in school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Our new communications data legislation will strengthen our ability to disrupt terrorist plots, criminal networks and organised child grooming gangs, even as technology develops.

The Guardian

The legislation will include not only the expected snooper's charter, enabling the tracking of everyone's web and social media use, but also moves to strengthen the security services' warranted powers for the bulk interception of the content of communications.

The Guardian

The report responds to lawmakers, mainly Republicans, who have argued that federal authorities must do much more to strengthen enforcement before Congress can consider any legalization for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

The New York Times

The champions are certain to strengthen once again this summer – indeed, they already have with the capture of Fernando Llorente on a free transfer.

The Guardian - Sport

Hodgson and the Steve Borthwick returned to strengthen the side and, unsurprisingly, the game developed into an arm wrestle between the two packs with Hodgson and Stephen Myler exchanging a series of penalties.

The Guardian - Sport

I hope that their comments will further strengthen our longstanding call to reverse the overreach of these pieces of legislation.

The Guardian

Related: Edward Snowden says Australia's new data retention laws are 'dangerous' The Conservative manifesto had promised to strengthen the state's powers of surveillance, despite opposition to the already considerable powers revealed by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor now living in exile in Russia.

The Guardian

"That would strengthen them and as long as we deem a threat to this country we have to take precautions".

The Guardian

He went to the club physiotherapist for exercises to strengthen it and was told "you have foot-drop" and advised to see his GP immediately.

The Guardian

We would replace the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which has failed … [We would] Follow human rights judgments limiting surveillance and data retention in full; [and] support the EU's proposals to strengthen data protection laws against opposition from large US data-driven companies".

The Guardian - Tech

The findings will raise the morale of Labour activists and strengthen those Tory voices calling for the party, which launches its manifesto next Tuesday, to emphasise the positive reasons to give Cameron a second term.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strengthen", consider the specific context to choose the most appropriate synonym for nuanced meaning. For example, "fortify" suggests defense, while "bolster" implies active support.

Common error

Avoid using "strengthen" in contexts where the type of strengthening is unclear. Be specific about what aspect is being improved to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

Strengthen" primarily functions as a transitive verb, indicating the action of making something stronger or more resilient. As Ludwig AI confirms, this word is appropriate for use in written English. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its use across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "strengthen" is a versatile verb that means to make something stronger or more effective. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in English. This guide provides a detailed analysis of "strengthen", including its grammatical function, communicative purpose, and usage across various contexts. With a high source quality score and expert rating, its prominence in news and media, coupled with formal and scientific contexts, underscores its broad applicability. Consider exploring synonyms like "reinforce" or "fortify" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reinforce

Emphasizes adding extra support to something to make it stronger.

fortify

Suggests building defenses or making something resistant to attack or weakening.

bolster

Implies actively supporting or encouraging something, as well as making it stronger.

enhance

Focuses on improving the quality, value, or extent of something.

augment

Indicates increasing something by adding to it.

build up

Suggests gradual improvement and growth in strength or size.

increase

A general term for making something larger or more numerous.

develop

Focuses on gradual growth and maturity.

promote

Highlights the act of furthering the growth or development of something.

secure

Indicates making something safe and stable.

FAQs

How to use "strengthen" in a sentence?

You can use "strengthen" to indicate making something more powerful or resilient. For example, "Regular exercise can "strengthen" your muscles" or "Efforts to "strengthen" international relations are crucial for global stability".

What can I say instead of "strengthen"?

You can use alternatives like "reinforce", "fortify", or "bolster" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "strengthen" or "make stronger"?

Both "strengthen" and "make stronger" are correct. "Strengthen" is more concise and often preferred in formal writing, while "make stronger" can be useful for emphasis or in less formal contexts.

What's the difference between "strengthen" and "improve"?

"Strengthen" implies making something more powerful or resilient, while "improve" generally means making something better or more desirable. They are not always interchangeable, though there can be overlap.