fortify

/ˈfɔːtɪfaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːrtɪfaɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī/ (ame, mw)

fortify — verb

  • fortifypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • fortifieshe / she / it
  • fortifiedpast simple
  • fortifying-ing form

1. to build defensive structures such as walls, towers, or barriers around a place

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to build defensive structures such as walls, towers, or barriers around a place so that enemies cannot easily enter or destroy it

例句

The old fort was rebuilt and fortified with cannons along every wall.

passive: was fortified + with [weapons/material]

Kwame's ancestors fortified the village by building a wall of sharpened logs around it.

同義詞
  • reinforce

    focuses on adding strength to existing structures rather than building new ones

  • strengthen

    more general; works for any kind of making stronger

  • barricade

    emphasizes blocking access rather than overall defensive building

反義詞
  • weaken

    to make less able to resist attack

  • expose

    to leave open to attack

文法句型

fortify + noun phrase + against

用法筆記

Often used in the passive form when describing historical military structures or defensive positions that were built in the past.

常見錯誤

❌The soldiers fortified themselves with guns before battle.' (for personal protection)
✅The soldiers fortified the camp with sandbags before battle.
💡This sense is about strengthening a place or structure, not a person.

2. to make a company, economy, or system stronger and better able to survive diffic

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make a company, economy, or system stronger and better able to survive difficulties or unexpected problems

例句

The company fortified its computer systems against hackers after the data breach.

fortify + against [threat]

Hospital managers fortified the emergency plan by running practice drills every month.

同義詞
  • bolster

    emphasizes support from outside; slightly less formal

  • reinforce

    implies adding extra strength to something that already exists

  • shore up

    suggests preventing something from collapsing; informal

反義詞
  • undermine

    to gradually weaken a system from within

  • weaken

    to make less resilient

文法句型

fortify + noun phrase + against

用法筆記

Subject is typically an organization, government, or institution; the object is usually an abstract system (economy, laws, regulations) rather than a physical place.

常見錯誤

❌The manager fortified the team by buying new chairs.' (physical objects)
✅The manager fortified the team's emergency procedures with new safety rules.
💡This sense is about systems, processes, and organizations, not physical objects.

3. to add vitamins, minerals, or other healthy ingredients to a food product so tha

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to add vitamins, minerals, or other healthy ingredients to a food product so that people get more nutritional benefit from eating it

例句

Many breakfast cereals are fortified with iron and vitamin D for better health.

passive: be fortified with [nutrient]

Milk fortified with calcium helps children grow strong bones.

fortified with [mineral] + purpose clause

同義詞
  • enrich

    very similar in meaning; 'enriched' is more common for adding back nutrients lost during processing, while 'fortified' usually means adding nutrients not originally present

  • supplement

    typically refers to adding nutrients separately (e.g. pills), not to the food itself

文法句型

fortify + noun + with + nutrient

用法筆記

Most common in the passive form ('is fortified with') on food labels and in nutrition writing. The nutrient being added is introduced by the preposition 'with'.

常見錯誤

❌This bread was fortified from vitamin B.' (wrong preposition)
✅This bread was fortified with vitamin B.
💡Use 'with', not 'from', to introduce the added nutrient.

4. to give someone the physical energy or mental determination they need to keep go

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to give someone the physical energy or mental determination they need to keep going in a difficult situation

例句

A hot bowl of soup and a good night's sleep fortified Lucia for the long journey ahead.

fortify + for + [challenge]

The coach's encouraging words fortified the team before the final match of the season.

同義詞
  • strengthen

    more general; less dramatic in tone

  • invigorate

    emphasizes giving energy rather than determination; slightly formal

  • brace

    focuses on mental preparation for something unpleasant

反義詞
  • weaken

    to reduce someone's strength or determination

  • drain

    to take away someone's energy

文法句型

fortify + reflexive pronoun

fortify + noun phrase

用法筆記

Can describe both physical strengthening (through food, rest) and mental strengthening (through encouragement, belief). Often used reflexively ('fortify oneself') to indicate self-preparation.

常見錯誤

❌Yoga fortified me.' (too vague)
✅Yoga fortified me for the stressful week ahead by helping me relax and focus.
💡The sense needs context: what challenge was the person preparing for?

5. to increase the alcohol content of a drink by adding spirits such as brandy or r

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

to increase the alcohol content of a drink by adding spirits such as brandy or rum during or after the production process

例句

Some winemakers fortify their port by adding brandy while the grapes are still fermenting.

fortify + [drink] + by adding [spirit]

Port is a classic example of a fortified wine that has a higher alcohol level than table wine.

fortified wine — common collocation in wine terminology

文法句型

fortify + noun + with + spirit

用法筆記

Commonly used as a technical term in wine-making ('fortified wine'), but also used informally when adding spirits to any drink to make it stronger.