toughen
verb /ˈtʌfn/
/ˈtʌfn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they toughen | /ˈtʌfn/ /ˈtʌfn/ |
| he / she / it toughens | /ˈtʌfnz/ /ˈtʌfnz/ |
| past simple toughened | /ˈtʌfnd/ /ˈtʌfnd/ |
| past participle toughened | /ˈtʌfnd/ /ˈtʌfnd/ |
| -ing form toughening | /ˈtʌfnɪŋ/ /ˈtʌfnɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] toughen (something) (up) to become or make something stronger, so that it is not easily cut, broken, etc.
- toughened glass
- [transitive] toughen something (up) to make something such as laws or rules stricter
- The government is considering toughening up the law on censorship.
- [transitive] toughen somebody (up) to make somebody stronger and more able to deal with difficult situations
- His parents sent him away to school to toughen him up.