strength

A2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US [st̠͡ɹ̠ɛŋkθ] UK /stɹɛŋ(k)θ/ See IPA manual

Freq #1494

Meanings

1

noun
The physical power that lets you do hard things like lifting.

It takes great strength to carry such heavy bags.
2

noun
A good quality or ability that someone or something has.

Patience is one of her greatest strengths as a teacher.
3

noun
How strong or powerful a force, feeling, or substance is.

They underestimated the strength of the storm.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

ability asset capability expertise forte fortitude main potency power

Word family

Forms strengths

Derived forms bandstrengthfore-strengthfull-strengthindustrial-strengthlinestrengthmidstrengthoutstrengthoverstrengthstrengthen strengthening strengthful strengthless

Related forms strong strongly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

signal strength
the power or intensity of a received signal

Noun + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

go from strength to strength
to keep improving and becoming more successful over time

Etymology

From Middle English strengthe, from Old English strengþu (“strength”), from Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu (“strongness; strength”), equivalent to strong + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Dutch strengte (“strength”), German Low German Strengde, Strengte (“harshness; rigidity; strictness; severity”).

*strengʰ- Proto-Indo-European strengthe Middle English strengþu Old English *strangiþu Proto-West Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# strength

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** [st̠͡ɹ̠ɛŋkθ]
**IPA (UK):** /stɹɛŋ(k)θ/
**Frequency rank:** 1494

## Meanings
1. The physical power that lets you do hard things like lifting.
2. A good quality or ability that someone or something has.
3. How strong or powerful a force, feeling, or substance is.

## Examples
- It takes great strength to carry such heavy bags.
- Patience is one of her greatest strengths as a teacher.
- They underestimated the strength of the storm.

## Synonyms
- ability
- asset
- capability
- expertise
- forte
- fortitude
- main
- potency
- power

## Derived Forms
- bandstrength
- fore-strength
- full-strength
- industrial-strength
- linestrength
- midstrength
- outstrength
- overstrength
- strengthen
- strengthening
- strengthful
- strengthless

## Related Forms
- strong
- strongly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *strengʰ-
- Root: strengthe
- Root: strengþu
- Root: *strangiþu
- Affix: -th - state

## Etymology
From Middle English strengthe, from Old English strengþu (“strength”), from Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu (“strongness; strength”), equivalent to strong + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Dutch strengte (“strength”), German Low German Strengde, Strengte (“harshness; rigidity; strictness; severity”).

## AI Etymology
Strength is from Middle English strengthe, from Old English strengþu (“strength”), from Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu (“strongness; strength”), equivalent to strong + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Dutch strengte (“strength”), German Low German Strengde, Strengte (“harshness; rigidity; strictness; severity”). In present-day use, it can mean the physical power that lets you do hard things like lifting, or a good quality or ability that someone or something has.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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