verb
toughen
TUH-fuhn
Toughen (verb) means to make something stronger or more resistant to damage. Example: “The coating is designed to toughen the glass against impacts.”
verb
1
To make something stronger or more resistant to damage.
"The coating is designed to toughen the glass against impacts."
2
To become tougher or more resilient.
"His skin toughened after years of working outdoors."
"Regulators plan to toughen safety standards next year."
How to use toughen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something (or someone) stronger, harder, or more resistant.
Common pairings
toughen up
toughen standards
toughen rules
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- toughens
- Past tense
- toughened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The coating is designed to _____ the glass against impacts.
Etymology
Formed from tough plus the suffix -en, which turns adjectives into verbs meaning "to make (more) so."
Frequently asked questions
What does “toughen” mean?
The word “toughen” means to make something stronger or more resistant to damage. In plain terms, to make something (or someone) stronger, harder, or more resistant.
How do you pronounce “toughen”?
“Toughen” is pronounced TUH-fuhn (/ˈtʌfən/ in IPA).
How do you use “toughen” in a sentence?
Here is “toughen” used in a sentence: “The coating is designed to toughen the glass against impacts.”
What part of speech is “toughen”?
“Toughen” is a verb.
How many meanings does “toughen” have?
“Toughen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something stronger or more resistant to damage.
