reinforce

verb

re·in·force | \ ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs

variants: or less commonly reenforce

reinforced also reenforced; reinforcing also reenforcing; reinforces also reenforces

Definition of reinforce

1 : to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced reinforce levees reinforce the elbows of a jacket reinforce ideas

2 : to strengthen or increase by fresh additions reinforce our troops were reinforcing their pitching staff

3 : to stimulate (a subject, such as an experimental animal) by reinforcement (see reinforcement sense 3) also : to encourage (a response) by reinforcement

intransitive verb

: to seek or get reinforcements

Other Words from reinforce Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About reinforce

Examples of reinforce in a Sentence

The captain sent out another squad to reinforce the troops. Our camp is reinforced with supplies flown in by helicopter. The levees will need to be reinforced. The bad weather forecast only reinforces our decision to leave early tomorrow. Some critics say that the movie reinforces negative stereotypes about the military. We do our best to reinforce good conduct in the classroom. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The story infuses and connects each stage of the buyer’s journey and aligns every touchpoint, which helps reinforce the narrative. — Marie Hattar, Forbes, 9 June 2022 Dressing up in outfits that reinforce racist stereotypes also counts as blackface. — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 6 June 2022 Methods to increase connectedness include classroom management techniques that reinforce attentive, cooperative and collaborative behaviors, reduce peer victimization and help youth understand how others feel and behave. — Mitch Prinstein, Scientific American, 31 May 2022 There are moments when War Pony sags — the result of one too many scenes of filler and a few sequences that reinforce facile observations about how Native culture is treated by white people. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2022 Crypto evangelists tend to see meltdowns like Terra's as an unfortunate loss, but one that ultimately helps reinforce the credibility of the underlying blockchain technology. — Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 May 2022 But having grandparents that reinforce the idea that a Eurocentric standard of beauty is better will plant seeds of insecurity. — refinery29.com, 12 May 2022 Urging rank-and-file Republicans to work as poll watchers plays on their fears of voter fraud and helps reinforce party loyalty, G.O.P. officials say. — New York Times, 15 Jan. 2022 That road, connecting Kramatorsk to Severodonetsk via Siversk, has allowed Kyiv to reinforce and resupply its troops in and around Severodonetsk. — David Axe, Forbes, 6 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reinforce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.