reinforce
verb
re·in·force
| \ ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs
\
\
variants:
or less commonly reenforce
Definition of reinforce
1
: to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced
reinforce levees reinforce the elbows of a jacket reinforce ideas
2
: to strengthen or increase by fresh additions
reinforce our troops were reinforcing their pitching staff
3
: to stimulate (a subject, such as an experimental animal) by reinforcement (see reinforcement sense 3)
also
: to encourage (a response) by reinforcement
: to seek or get reinforcements
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Other Words from reinforce
reinforceable
\ ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for reinforce
Synonyms
back, bolster, buttress, corroborate, shore (up), substantiate, support
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Examples of reinforce in a Sentence
The captain sent out another squad to reinforce the troops.
Our camp is reinforced with supplies flown in by helicopter.
The levees will need to be reinforced.
The bad weather forecast only reinforces our decision to leave early tomorrow.
Some critics say that the movie reinforces negative stereotypes about the military.
We do our best to reinforce good conduct in the classroom.
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Recent Examples on the Web
The new rules of the Civil Rights era not only increased the full participation of black Americans in the economy, but also in American democracy, trends that were mutually reinforcing. — Andrea Flynn, Time, "It Takes Black Women in the U.S. 20 Months to Earn What White Men Make in a Year. Here's the History Behind That Wage Gap," 22 Aug. 2019 These landscape paintings stylistically tend to utilize visible brush strokes that reinforce the sense of an artist responding to natural scenery. — Mike Giuliano, baltimoresun.com, "Artist Jane Knighton simply shows the world as she sees it at Ellicott City gallery," 15 Aug. 2019 The former 15th-round pick out of Wichita State is batting .259 with 30 homers and 20 steals, flashing five-tool ability with lefty power that could immediately reinforce a Colorado bench that’s thin on big sticks. — Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, "Newman: If Rockies are serious about assessing for 2020, here’s the prospects they need to call up this year," 13 Aug. 2019 Walls of recycled glass, cleverly placed skylights and a whole-house solar system are among forward-thinking details that reinforce the innovative design. — Los Angeles Times, "Home of the Week: A modern Pasadena home full of surprises," 10 Aug. 2019 Taken together, these efforts to increase transparency show a field attempting to fix a difficult issue by removing the secrecy that reinforces its inequities. — Washington Post, "Women are increasingly getting the top museum jobs. Will more of them finally get equal pay?," 2 July 2019 Currently, intellectual agendas in British universities operate to maintain a narrow, inward looking perspective that reinforces the logics of Orientalism (the Western attitude that views Eastern societies as exotic, primitive, and inferior). — Katy Sian, Quartz, "“Liberal racism” continues to plague Britain’s universities," 27 June 2019 And — in another nod to the issue — House Democrats passed a climate messaging bill in May that reinforced support for the Paris climate accord. — Mark K. Matthews, Scientific American, "Climate Comes Up at Democratic Debate, But with Few New Details," 27 June 2019 Economists are expecting income to rise 0.3% from May and spending to jump 0.5%—healthy readings that should reinforce the Fed’s view that U.S. consumers remain in good shape. — Wsj Staff, WSJ, "Economy Week Ahead: New-Home Sales, Consumer Spending, Inflation Data," 23 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reinforce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for reinforce
reinforce
verb
English Language Learners Definition of reinforce
: to strengthen (a group of people) with new supplies or more people
: to strengthen (something, such as clothing or a building) by adding more material for support
: to encourage or give support to (an idea, behavior, feeling, etc.)
See the full definition for reinforce in the English Language Learners Dictionary
reinforce
verb
re·in·force
| \ ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs\
reinforced;
reinforcing
Kids Definition of reinforce
1
: to strengthen with new supplies or more people
Another squad reinforced the troops.
2
: to strengthen by adding more material for support
The wall needs to be reinforced.
reinforce
transitive verb
re·in·force
| \ ˌrē-ən-ˈfō(ə)rs, -ˈfȯ(ə)rs
\
\
reinforced;
reinforcing
Medical Definition of reinforce
1
: to strengthen by additional material or support : make stronger
reinforced with vitamins
2
: to stimulate (as an experimental animal or a student) by reinforcement
also
: to encourage (a response) by reinforcement
Other Words from reinforce
reinforceable
\ -ə-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
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