strong

See also: Strong

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English strong, strang, from Old English strong, strang (“strong, powerful, mighty, able; firm, constant, resolute, strenuous, hardy; hard, severe, fierce, stern, strict; bold, brave; valid, assured; effective, producing a great effect, potent; earnest; arduous, violent”), from Proto-Germanic *strangaz (“tight, strict, straight, strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“pulled tight, straight, constricted”), *strenk- (“taut, stiff, tight”). Cognate with Scots strang (“strong”), Saterland Frisian strang, West Frisian string (“austere, strict, harsh, severe, stern, stark, tough”), Dutch streng (“strict, severe, tight”), German streng (“strict, severe, austere”), Swedish sträng, strang (“severe, strict, harsh”), Norwegian strang (“strong, harsh, bitter”), Icelandic strangur (“strict”), Latin stringō (“tighten”).

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: strŏng, IPA(key): /stɹɒŋ/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ʃtɹɒŋ/, /ʃt͡ʃɹɒŋ/
  • (General American) enPR: strông, IPA(key): /stɹɔŋ/
  • (Canada, cot–caught merger) enPR: strŏng, IPA(key): /stɹɑŋ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (UK)(file)
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒŋ

Adjective

strong (comparative stronger, superlative strongest)

  1. Capable of producing great physical force.
    a big strong man; Jake was tall and strong
  2. Capable of withstanding great physical force.
    a strong foundation; good strong shoes
  3. (of water, wind, etc.) Having a lot of power.
    The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
  4. Determined; unyielding.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp, chapter 10:
      It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
    • 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America‎, archived from the original on 7 February 2019:
      It noted China was especially strong in the fast-growing area of “deep learning.”
      Audio (US)(file)
    He is strong in the face of adversity.
  5. Highly stimulating to the senses.
    a strong light; a strong taste
  6. Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
    a strong smell
  7. Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
    a strong cup of coffee; a strong medicine
  8. (specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
    a strong drink
    She gets up, and pours herself a strong one. - Eagles, Lying Eyes
  9. (grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
    a strong verb
  10. (chemistry) That completely ionizes into anions and cations in a solution.
    a strong acid;  a strong base
  11. (military) Not easily subdued or taken.
    a strong position
  12. (slang, US) Impressive, good.
    You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
  13. Having a specified number of people or units.
    The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
  14. (of a disease or symptom) severe (very bad or intense)
    • 2005, Andrew Gaeddert, Healing Immune Disorders: Natural Defense-Building Solutions, North Atlantic Books, page 221:
      Physicians may diagnosis influenza by a throat culture or blood test, which may be important if you have a particularly strong flu, if your doctor suspects pneumonia or a bacterial infection.
  15. (mathematics, logic) Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)
  16. (of an argument) Convincing.
    • 1558, John Knox, The Appellation of Iohn Knoxe from the cruell and moſt iniuſt ſentence pronounced againſt him by the falſe biſhoppes and clergie of Scotland, page 11v:
      […] but grounding him ſelfe vpon ſtrong reaſons, to wit, that he had not offended the Iewes, neither yet the Law, but that he was innocēt, and therefore that no iudge oght to geue hym in the hādes of his ennemies […]

Synonyms

Antonyms
  • (capable of producing great physical force): forceless, weak
  • (capable of withstanding great physical force): fragile
  • (having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient): diluted, impotent, weak
  • (grammar: irregular): regular, weak
  • (chemistry: that completely ionizes): weak
  • (military: not easily subdued or taken): weak

Hyponyms
  • ultra-strong

Translations
having a high alcoholic content
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

Adverb

strong (not comparable)

  1. In a strong manner.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English strang, form Proto-Germanic *strangaz.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /strɔnɡ/

Adjective

strong (inflected form stronge, comparative strongere, superlative strongest)

  1. strong
Antonyms
Descendants

Etymology 2

From Old French estrange

Adjective

strong

  1. Alternative form of straunge

Swedish

Etymology

Through Swedish slang, based on English strong, since 1922. There is also a form strång with a different sense since 1640.

Adjective

strong (comparative strongare, superlative strongast)

  1. mentally and morally strong, courageous

Declension
Inflection of strong
Indefinite Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular strong strongare strongast
Neuter singular strongt strongare strongast
Plural stronga strongare strongast
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 stronge strongare strongaste
All stronga strongare strongaste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
  • strongt

References

Tok Pisin

Etymology

English strong

Adjective

strong

  1. Capable of producing great physical force; strong.
  2. Capable of withstanding great physical force; strong.
  3. Determined, unyielding.

See also

Noun

strong

  1. Strength
    • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Port Moresby: Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, 1:22:
      (please add an English translation of this quote)
This entry has fewer than three known examples of actual usage, the minimum considered necessary for clear attestation, and may not be reliable. Tok Pisin is subject to a special exemption for languages with limited documentation. If you speak it, please consider editing this entry or adding citations. See also Help and the Community Portal.
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