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

To make something stronger or more resistant to damage.

"The coating is designed to toughen the glass against impacts."

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 notes

In plain EnglishTo make something (or someone) stronger, harder, or more resistant.

Common pairings

toughen up toughen standards toughen rules

Word forms

toughened past tense, toughens singular

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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.