Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

strong

adjective

, strong·er [strawng, -ger, strong, -], strong·est [strawng, -gist, strong, -].

having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust:
a strong boy.
Synonyms: stalwart, stout, muscular, hardy, sinewy, brawny, sturdy, mighty
Antonyms: weak
accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical, etc., power or force:
a strong handshake;
With one strong blow the machine stamped out a fender.
mentally powerful or vigorous:
He may be old, but his mind is still strong.
especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect:
She's very strong in mathematics.
He's weak at bat, but he's a strong fielder.
Synonyms: efficient, capable, talented
of great moral power, firmness, or courage:
strong under temptation.
Synonyms: brave, valiant
powerful in influence, authority, resources, or means of prevailing or succeeding:
a strong nation.
a strong personality.
Synonyms: intense, bold
of great force, effectiveness, potency, or cogency; compelling:
strong reasons;
strong arguments.
Synonyms: conclusive, impressive, cogent, persuasive
He has a strong voice.
The banker predicted a strong economy.
Synonyms: secure, firm, steady
well-supplied or rich in something specific:
a strong hand in trumps.
having powerful means to resist attack, assault, or aggression:
a strong fortress;
a strong defense.
able to resist strain, force, wear, etc.:
strong walls;
strong cloth.
decisively unyielding; firm or uncompromising:
She has strong views about the United Nations.
He has a strong sense of duty.
Synonyms: resolute
He's a strong Democrat.
Synonyms: vehement, fervid
strong efforts.
moving or acting with force or vigor:
strong winds.
distinct or marked; vivid, as impressions, resemblance or contrast:
He bears a strong resemblance to his grandfather.
Synonyms: clear, unmistakable, striking
intense, as light or color.
Synonyms: vivid, brilliant
having a large proportion of the effective or essential properties or ingredients; concentrated:
strong tea.
(of a beverage or food) containing much alcohol:
strong drink;
The fruitcake was too strong.
having a high degree of flavor or odor:
strong cheese;
strong perfume.
Synonyms: tart, tangy, hot, piquant, sharp, aromatic, pungent
having an unpleasant or offensive flavor or odor, especially in the process of decay:
strong butter.
Synonyms: rank, smelly
Marines 20,000 strong.
Commerce. characterized by steady or advancing prices:
The market resumed its strong pace after yesterday's setback.
1. (of Germanic verbs) having vowel change in the root in inflected forms, as the English verbs sing, sang, sung; ride, rode, ridden.
(of Germanic nouns and adjectives) inflected with endings that are generally distinctive of case, number, and gender, as German alter Mann “old man.”
belonging to the morphophonemically less regular of two inflectional subtypes.
(of a word or syllable) stressed.
Optics. having great magnifying or refractive power:
a strong microscope.

adverb

/ strɒŋ /

adjective

involving or possessing physical or mental strength
solid or robust in construction; not easily broken or injured
having a resolute will or morally firm and incorruptible character
intense in quality; not faint or feeble
a strong voice
a strong smell
easily defensible; incontestable or formidable
concentrated; not weak or diluted
1. postpositive containing or having a specified number
  a navy 40 000 strong
2. ( in combination )
  a 40 000-strong navy
having an unpleasantly powerful taste or smell
having an extreme or drastic effect
strong discipline
strong language
convincing, effective, or cogent
(of a colour) having a high degree of saturation or purity; being less saturated than a vivid colour but more so than a moderate colour; produced by a concentrated quantity of colouring agent
1. denoting or belonging to a class of verbs, in certain languages including the Germanic languages, whose conjugation shows vowel gradation, as sing, sang, sung
belonging to any part-of-speech class, in any of various languages, whose inflections follow the less regular of two possible patterns
Compare weak
(of a wind, current, etc) moving fast
(of a syllable) accented or stressed
(of an industry, market, currency, securities, etc) firm in price or characterized by firm or increasing prices
(of certain acids and bases) producing high concentrations of hydrogen or hydroxide ions in aqueous solution
prosperous; well-to-do (esp in the phrase a strong farmer )
have a strong stomach
not to be prone to nausea

adverb

informal.
in a strong way; effectively
going strong
come on strong
to make a forceful or exaggerated impression

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Derived Forms

ˈstrongish, adjective
ˈstrongly, adverb
ˈstrongness, noun

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Other Words From

strongish adjective
strongly adverb
strongness noun
over·strong adjective
over·strongly adverb
over·strongness noun
self-strong adjective
super·strong adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of strong1

First recorded

before 900;

(adjective) Middle English strang, strong, Old English; cognate with Middle Dutch stranc, Old Norse strangr; (adverb) Middle English strange, stronge, Old English; cognate with Old High German strango; akin to string

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Word History and Origins

Origin of strong1

Old English strang; related to Old Norse strangr, Middle High German strange, Lettish strans courageous

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

come on strong, Slang. to behave in an aggressive, ardent, or flamboyant manner:
When you're interviewed for the job, don't come on too strong.

More idioms and phrases containing strong

come on strong

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Example Sentences

"We are together in solidarity in this fight, and we are building a collective power for the future, and our vision of an inclusive and hopeful future does remain strong."

Current data do not support a strong causal link between involuntary treatment and treatment adherence, relapse prevention or social functioning.

Flynn said that in politics there was always going to be a strong reaction to people seeking to do things differently.

With a few high-profile cases like Perry’s death recently circulating in the news, others are questioning whether it is time to develop a stronger regulatory network for ketamine prescribing to prevent misuse and diversion.

An undercover investigation into the alleged mis-selling of phone contracts has revealed questionable sales practices, prompting calls for stronger regulation.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023