reinforce
verb
re·in·force
ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs 
variants
or less commonly reenforce
reinforced also reenforced; reinforcing also reenforcing; reinforces also reenforces
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
: to seek or get reinforcements
Synonyms
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Notably, first lady Melania Trump accompanied the president to reinforce a meaningfulness to the trip.
—
Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Jan. 2025
Yet each step of my journey—from the subzero climate of my youth to the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Silicon Valley—has only reinforced my belief that, with vision and determination, technology can open doors most people never knew existed.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Some examples of using gamification include: • Challenges in employee onboarding or training programs to reinforce company policies and values.
—Andreas Bubenzer-Paim, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Many of these orders reinforce the fiction that mass migration constitutes some kind of war.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reinforce 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Jan. 2025
Yet each step of my journey—from the subzero climate of my youth to the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Silicon Valley—has only reinforced my belief that, with vision and determination, technology can open doors most people never knew existed.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Some examples of using gamification include: • Challenges in employee onboarding or training programs to reinforce company policies and values.
—Andreas Bubenzer-Paim, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Many of these orders reinforce the fiction that mass migration constitutes some kind of war.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reinforce
Dictionary Entries Near reinforce
Cite this Entry
“Reinforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reinforce. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reinforce
verb
re·in·force
ˌrē-ən-ˈfō(ə)rs
-ˈfȯ(ə)rs
1
: to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support
reinforce the elbows of a jacket
reinforce the argument with facts
2
: to strengthen or increase by fresh additions
were reinforcing their pitching staff
reinforce our troops
3
: to stimulate (a person or animal) with a reinforcer
also
: to increase the frequency of (a response) with a reinforcer
Medical Definition
reinforce
transitive verb
re·in·force
ˌrē-ən-ˈfō(ə)rs, -ˈfȯ(ə)rs
reinforced; reinforcing
1
: to strengthen by additional material or support : make stronger
reinforced with vitamins
2
: to stimulate (as an experimental animal or a student) by reinforcement
also
: to encourage (a response) by reinforcement
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