reinforce

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˌriː.ɪnˈfɔːs/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˌri.ɪnˈfɔrs/
• (AU) IPA ^(key): /ˌriː.ɪnˈfoːs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form reinforce

Third-person singular reinforces

Past tense reinforced

Past participle reinforced

Present participle reinforcing

1. (transitive) If you reinforce something, you make it stronger.
   • Synonyms: emphasise, emphasize, stress and highlight
   • Antonym: weaken

   Recent mistakes only reinforce the view that nobody cares.

   Hitting a child can reinforce his tendency to use violence.

   This meeting has helped to further reinforce the links between the colleges.

   The steel is used to reinforce the building's walls.

   The extra men will reinforce the army in Iraq.

Related words

• reinforcement