toughen

/ˈtʌfn/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈʌfən] /ˈtʌfn/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈʌfən] /ˈtə-fən How to pronounce toughen (audio)/ (ame, mw)

toughen — verb

  • toughenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • toughenshe / she / it
  • toughenedpast simple
  • toughening-ing form

1. to make someone or something stronger, either physically so that it can resist d

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to make someone or something stronger, either physically so that it can resist damage or pressure, or mentally so that they can handle hardship without giving up

例句

Kwame toughened his hands by working on the farm every day without gloves.

toughen + body part: physical conditioning through repeated work

Living alone in a new country toughened Reuben and taught him to solve his problems.

toughen + person: emotional growth from difficult experience

同義詞
  • strengthen

    more general; can apply to muscles, relationships, economies, or structures

  • harden

    more physical; describes becoming physically hard and firm rather than generally stronger

  • fortify

    more formal; often used for defence, protection, or adding nutrients

  • reinforce

    means adding extra support to something that already exists rather than making it strong from scratch

反義詞
  • weaken

    the direct opposite of making stronger

  • soften

    the opposite of hardening; can be physical or emotional

文法句型

toughen + noun/pronoun

toughen up

toughen + reflexive pronoun

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'up' (toughen up) in both transitive and intransitive patterns, especially in informal contexts. The object can be a body part, a material, or a person's character or spirit.

常見錯誤

❌Running every day will tough my legs.
✅Running every day will toughen my legs.
💡'tough' is an adjective, not a verb; use 'toughen' for the action of making stronger.
❌I need to toughen about my health.
✅I need to toughen up and exercise more.
💡'toughen' does not take a preposition like 'about'; use 'toughen up' as a self-sufficient phrasal verb.

2. if rules, laws, or conditions toughen, or if someone toughens them, they become

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

if rules, laws, or conditions toughen, or if someone toughens them, they become harder to satisfy or more difficult for people to deal with

例句

The government toughened the driving test, so now more people fail.

toughen + noun phrase (driving test): making a standard stricter

The school toughened its rules about phone use after too many students were distracted.

toughen + noun phrase (rules): authority imposing stricter regulations

同義詞
  • tighten

    more common than 'toughen' for rules and restrictions in everyday speech

  • stiffen

    suggests becoming more rigid and less flexible in application

  • harden

    suggests becoming less sympathetic or more severe in attitude

反義詞
  • relax

    make rules or conditions less strict

  • ease

    make conditions less difficult to satisfy

文法句型

toughen + noun phrase (rules/laws/standards)

toughen (intransitive)

用法筆記

Subject is typically an authority figure or institution (government, school, company); the object is an abstract regulation or requirement, never a person. The intransitive use describes conditions changing by themselves over time.

常見錯誤

❌The manager toughened the workers.
✅The manager toughened the workplace safety rules.
💡For this sense, the object must be a rule, law, or standard, not a person.
❌My parents toughened my bedtime.
✅My parents toughened the rules about my bedtime.
💡'toughen' applies to the regulation itself, not the schedule directly.