{
    "term": "strengthen",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "strengthen",
            "heSheIt": "strengthens"
        },
        "pastSimple": "strengthened",
        "pastParticiple": "strengthened",
        "ingForm": "strengthening"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to become more powerful or effective; to make somebody/something more powerful or effective",
            "sensetop": "strengthen somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Her position in the party has strengthened in recent weeks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The move is clearly intended to **strengthen** the president's **position** as head of state.",
                    "contextForm": "strengthen somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new evidence will strengthen their case."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new manager has strengthened the side by bringing in several younger players."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new law is aimed at strengthening protective measures for workers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The success in the election strengthened the party's position considerably."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This merger will further strengthen the company and ensure its continued success."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to become physically stronger",
            "sensetop": "strengthen somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The exercises are designed to strengthen your stomach muscles."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Repairs are necessary to strengthen the bridge."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to make a feeling, an opinion or a relationship stronger; to become stronger",
            "sensetop": "strengthen (something)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This temporary setback merely **strengthened her resolve**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their attitude only strengthened his resolve to fight on."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The experience of bereavement can **strengthen** family **ties**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His determination only strengthened in the face of this opposition."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to become stronger",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The wind had strengthened overnight."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Health and Fitness"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["considerably", "enormously", "greatly"],
                "verb + strengthen": ["help (to)", "serve to", "be designed to"],
                "preposition": ["against"],
                "phrases": [
                    "an attempt to strengthen something",
                    "an effort to strengthen something",
                    "be aimed at strengthening something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to become stronger; to make a currency or an economy stronger",
            "sensetop": "strengthen (against something)strengthen something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Yesterday the pound strengthened against the dollar.",
                    "contextForm": "strengthen (against something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The fall in unemployment is a sign of a strengthening economy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The measures should help create jobs and strengthen the economy.",
                    "contextForm": "strengthen something"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθn/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthen__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθnz/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthens__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθnd/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthened__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθənɪŋ/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthening__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθn/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthen__us_1_rr.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθnz/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthens__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθnd/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthened__us_3.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈstreŋkθənɪŋ/",
                "audio": "st/strengthen/strengthening__us_4.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": null
}