verb
harden
HAHDN
verb
1
To become hard, or to make something hard or harder.
"The clay hardens as it dries in the sun."
"Cold winters harden steel used for tools."
2
To become or make someone more resistant, tough, or emotionally unaffected.
"Years of hardship had hardened her against disappointment."
How to Use Harden
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make or become physically hard, or emotionally tougher and less easily affected.
Common pairings
harden your resolve
harden a stance
attitudes hardened
Word Forms
hardened past tense, Hardens plural, hardens singular
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The clay _____ as it dries in the sun.
Etymology
From Middle English hardenen, built from hard plus the verb-forming suffix -en.