bolster

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈboʊlstɚ/ UK /ˈbəʊlstə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to support or strengthen; a long firm pillow or cushion

The new evidence helped bolster the prosecution's case.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to support or strengthen; a... support strengthen reinforce buttress prop brace shore boost

Opposites

undermine weaken sabotage

Word family

Derived forms bolsteredbolsteringbolsterer

Etymology

From Old English bolster ('cushion, pillow'), from Proto-Germanic *bulstraz ('cushion, bolster'), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ- ('to swell').

bolster Old English *bulstraz Proto-Germanic *bʰelǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# bolster

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈboʊlstɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈbəʊlstə/

## Meanings
1. to support or strengthen; a long firm pillow or cushion

## Examples
- The new evidence helped bolster the prosecution's case.

## Synonyms
- support
- strengthen
- reinforce
- buttress
- prop
- brace
- shore
- boost

## Antonyms
- undermine
- weaken
- sabotage

## Derived Forms
- bolstered
- bolstering
- bolsterer

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bolster
- Root: *bulstraz
- Root: *bʰelǵʰ-

## Etymology
From Old English bolster ('cushion, pillow'), from Proto-Germanic *bulstraz ('cushion, bolster'), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ- ('to swell').

## AI Etymology
Bolster is a verb and noun meaning "to support or strengthen; a long firm pillow or cushion". Historically, it is from Old English bolster ('cushion, pillow'), from Proto-Germanic *bulstraz ('cushion, bolster'), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ- ('to swell'). The historical chain links Old English bolster, Proto-Germanic *bulstraz, and Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ-. Close English family members include bolstered, bolstering, and bolsterer.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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