MEANING
1. To strengthen a place or structure against attack, damage, or collapse.
2. To strengthen or invigorate a person physically, emotionally, or morally.
3. To enrich food or drink by adding nutrients or increasing its alcoholic strength.
Use it for
Describe strengthening a defense, resolve, or food with added nutrients.Make a shelter or barrier more resistant to attack or damage.
Words that belong together
- fortify a wall
- fortify a doorway
- fortify defenses
- fortify someone’s resolve
- fortify morale
- fortify the spirit
- fortify flour with vitamins
- fortified cereal
- fortified wine
On the page
They fortified the warehouse doors before the armed convoy arrived.
A short message from her sister fortified the pilot’s resolve.
The manufacturer fortified the flour with folic acid.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- fortify
- Past tense
- fortified
- Past participle
- fortified
- Present participle
- fortifying
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- fortify
- Present continuous
- am/is/are fortifying
- Present perfect
- have/has fortified
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been fortifying
- Past
- fortified
- Past continuous
- was/were fortifying
- Past perfect
- had fortified
- Past perfect continuous
- had been fortifying
- Future
- will fortify
- Future continuous
- will be fortifying
- Future perfect
- will have fortified
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been fortifying
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Sense 1: This sense takes a structure or place as its object and suggests added protection or strength. Sense 2: This figurative sense strengthens a person or quality, especially resolve or morale. Sense 3: In food contexts it often means adding nutrients; for wine or spirits, it can mean adding alcohol.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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