Reinforced
ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrst
Definitions
To strengthen or add support to something, typically with extra material or people.
ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrs
To strengthen or support (something), typically with additional material or resources.
The engineers reinforced the bridge to withstand heavier traffic.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're building a sandcastle, and the waves keep knocking it down. To stop it, you could reinforce it by adding more sand and some sticks. That's what reinforcing means – making something stronger so it doesn't fall apart.
👶 For kids: To make something stronger, like adding more toys to a tower so it doesn't fall down.
More Examples
The company decided to reinforce its marketing strategy with a new campaign.
The coach reinforced the players' confidence after the losing streak.
How It's Used
"The builders reinforced the walls with steel beams."
"The army reinforced the defensive line with more troops."
"Positive feedback reinforces desired behaviors."
Idioms & expressions
Reinforce the message
To emphasize or repeat a message to make it more impactful or memorable.
"The company reinforced the message about recycling by including it in every email."
Reinforce the point
To emphasize an idea or argument to make it more persuasive.
"The speaker reinforced the point with compelling data and anecdotes."
From Middle French *renforcier*, from *re-* (again) + *enforcier* (to strengthen), from Latin *fortis* (strong).
The word has been used since the 17th century, initially in military contexts to strengthen fortifications, and later in broader applications.
Memory tip
Think of adding more *force* to make something stronger: RE-in-FORCE
Practice
Word Origin
Root: fortis (Latin)