Explanation at your level:
To weaken means to make something not strong. If you have a big tower made of blocks and you take one away, you weaken the tower. You can use this word when something is getting smaller or less powerful.
When you weaken something, you make it less powerful. For example, 'The medicine weakened the virus.' It is the opposite of making something stronger. You can use it for things like muscles, arguments, or even the weather.
The verb weaken is used to describe a process where strength or effectiveness is reduced. It is very common in news reports, such as 'The storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland.' You can also use it to talk about abstract things like 'weakening ties between countries' or 'weakening confidence' in a product.
In B2 level English, you will find weaken used in more nuanced contexts. It often appears in discussions about policy, psychology, and structural integrity. For instance, 'Constant criticism can weaken a person's self-esteem.' It is a precise way to describe the gradual erosion of power or stability in a system.
At the C1 level, weaken is frequently used in academic and professional discourse. You might describe 'weakening geopolitical influence' or 'the weakening of institutional frameworks.' It suggests a process that is often subtle but significant. It is a strong alternative to simpler phrases like 'make less strong' or 'reduce the impact of.'
At the mastery level, weaken can be used in highly figurative or literary ways. Authors might describe the 'weakening of the human spirit' or the 'weakening of historical narratives.' It implies a deep, perhaps irreversible, decline in the core essence of a subject. Understanding its etymological roots in 'pliancy' allows for a more sophisticated grasp of how the word implies a loss of resistance against external forces.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Weaken means to make something less strong.
- It is a regular verb (weaken, weakened, weakening).
- It can be used for physical and abstract things.
- Its opposite is strengthen.
When you weaken something, you are essentially taking away its power or stability. Think of a chain; if you file down one of the links, you weaken the entire chain, making it more likely to snap under pressure.
This word is incredibly versatile because it can be used for physical things, like weakening the structure of a bridge, or abstract concepts, like weakening an argument in a debate. It is a very common verb used in both casual conversations and professional settings to describe a loss of vigor or potency.
The word weaken comes from the Middle English word 'weiken,' which itself is derived from the Old Norse 'veikr,' meaning 'pliant' or 'soft.' It has deep Germanic roots that connect it to the idea of bending or yielding easily.
Over centuries, the suffix -en was added to turn the adjective 'weak' into a verb. This is a classic pattern in English where we add -en to adjectives to describe the process of becoming that quality, similar to 'sharpen' or 'darken.' It is fascinating how a word describing a lack of force has survived so strongly in our language for nearly a thousand years.
You will often hear weaken used with nouns that represent power or structure. Common collocations include weakening the economy, weakening the resolve, or weakening the foundation.
In terms of register, it is a neutral word. You can use it in a scientific report to describe weakening signals or in a casual chat to say, 'The rain is weakening.' It is not slang, nor is it overly archaic, making it a safe and effective choice for almost any situation.
While 'weaken' itself isn't the primary focus of many idioms, it is often the result of them. For example:
- To lose one's grip: This leads to weakening control.
- To run out of steam: This describes a weakening of energy.
- To cut the legs out from under: This is a metaphor for weakening someone's position.
- To water down: This means to weaken the strength of an argument or liquid.
- To take the wind out of one's sails: This weakens someone's enthusiasm.
Weaken is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is weakened, and its present participle is weakening. It usually acts as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (e.g., 'The storm weakened the roof').
Pronunciation-wise, it is two syllables: WEE-kuhn. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like 'beaken' or 'deacon' (in terms of sound structure). Remember to keep the 'k' sound crisp before the 'en' ending.
Fun Fact
It shares roots with the word 'weak', which originally meant 'to bend'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ee' sound followed by a soft 'k' and 'en'.
Similar to UK, very crisp 'k'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'ea' as 'eh'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Swallowing the 'n' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He weakened the wall.
Passive Voice
The wall was weakened.
Adjective to Verb
Weak -> Weaken
Examples by Level
The rain is weakening.
rain getting less strong
intransitive use
Don't weaken the rope.
do not make rope less strong
imperative
My legs are weakening.
legs getting tired
present continuous
The wall is weakening.
wall getting old/cracked
present continuous
Do not weaken him.
don't make him less strong
transitive
The ice is weakening.
ice melting
present continuous
The light is weakening.
light getting dim
intransitive
He is weakening now.
he is losing energy
intransitive
The storm will weaken soon.
The medicine weakened the pain.
Don't weaken your argument.
The heat weakened the plastic.
His resolve is weakening.
The bridge is weakening.
The team is weakening.
The wind is weakening.
The government's position is weakening.
The scandal weakened his reputation.
High interest rates weakened the economy.
The disease weakened her immune system.
The argument was weakened by new evidence.
The dollar weakened against the euro.
The structure was weakened by the earthquake.
His voice weakened as he spoke.
The alliance was weakened by internal conflict.
The regulations were weakened by lobbying.
The company's market share is weakening.
The evidence was weakened by the witness's testimony.
The foundation of the argument was weakened.
The currency weakened significantly overnight.
Years of neglect weakened the building.
The impact of the policy was weakened.
The resolution was weakened by several amendments.
Technological shifts have weakened traditional media.
The consensus was weakened by dissenting voices.
The narrative was weakened by logical inconsistencies.
The treaty was weakened by lack of enforcement.
Macroeconomic instability weakened investor confidence.
The cultural fabric was weakened by rapid change.
The structural integrity was weakened by corrosion.
The philosophical underpinnings were weakened by skepticism.
The hegemony of the empire was gradually weakened.
The aesthetic appeal was weakened by excessive ornamentation.
The moral authority was weakened by hypocrisy.
The once-strong tradition was weakened by modernization.
The systemic coherence was weakened by fragmentation.
The argument's potency was weakened by fallacies.
The collective resolve was weakened by apathy.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Water down"
To make something less strong or intense
They watered down the policy.
neutral"Take the wind out of someone's sails"
To make someone feel less confident or energetic
Her criticism took the wind out of his sails.
idiomatic"Lose steam"
To lose energy or momentum
The protest started to lose steam.
casual"Cut the ground from under"
To weaken someone's position
He cut the ground from under his rival.
neutral"Thin out"
To become less dense or strong
The crowd began to thin out.
neutral"Lose one's grip"
To become less in control
He is starting to lose his grip on reality.
neutralEasily Confused
It is the adjective form.
Weak is an adjective, weaken is a verb.
He is weak (adj). He will weaken (verb).
Both mean to reduce.
Lessen is for quantity; weaken is for strength.
Lessen the pain vs weaken the resolve.
Similar spelling.
Waken means to wake up.
I will waken him vs I will weaken him.
Confused with 'weakening'.
Weaken is the verb; weakening is the participle.
It will weaken vs It is weakening.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + weaken + object
The storm weakened the bridge.
Object + be + weakened + by + agent
The bridge was weakened by the storm.
Subject + weaken + over time
His resolve weakened over time.
Subject + weaken + significantly
The economy weakened significantly.
Subject + weaken + due to + cause
The ties weakened due to the conflict.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Weaken does not take 'up'.
Weaken is already a verb; don't add 'make'.
Weakeningly is not a standard adverb.
The verb form uses -ing.
Weaken does not take 'down'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a strong wall turning into sand.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used often in news for storms or markets.
Cultural Insight
Often used in political debates.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'ee' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never add 'up' to weaken.
Did You Know?
It comes from Old Norse.
Study Smart
Pair it with its antonym 'strengthen'.
Context
Use it for abstract or physical things.
Tip
The 'k' is silent in some dialects, but not in standard English.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Weak + en = make it weak.
Visual Association
A rope being cut by scissors.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about things that weaken over time.
Word Origin
Old Norse
Original meaning: Pliant or soft
Cultural Context
None, it is a standard descriptive verb.
Used frequently in political and economic commentary.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- weaken the position
- weaken the argument
- weaken the proposal
Weather
- storm will weaken
- wind is weakening
- pressure is weakening
Health
- weaken the immune system
- weaken the muscles
- weaken the body
Politics
- weaken the alliance
- weaken the policy
- weaken the support
Conversation Starters
"What things do you think weaken our society?"
"How can we prevent our resolve from weakening?"
"Do you think the economy is weakening?"
"What can weaken a friendship?"
"How does stress weaken the body?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt your resolve weakening.
What is something that weakens over time?
Write about a situation where someone's position was weakened.
How can we strengthen things that are weakening?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it follows regular conjugation patterns.
Yes, e.g., 'The illness weakened him.'
Weakness.
Similar, but 'weaken' implies a loss of strength specifically.
No, it is a verb.
WEE-kuhn.
It is neutral and used in all settings.
Yes, strengthen.
Test Yourself
The storm will ___ the house.
Weaken is the verb needed here.
Which word means to make less strong?
Weaken is the direct definition.
Weaken is the opposite of strengthen.
They are antonyms.
Word
Meaning
Matching antonyms.
Subject-verb-object structure.
The evidence was ___ by the new testimony.
Weakened fits the context of evidence losing credibility.
Which is a synonym of weaken?
Undermine is a synonym.
You can say 'weaken up'.
Weaken does not take up.
Standard sentence structure.
The heat ___ the plastic.
Weakened makes sense for plastic in heat.
Score: /10
Summary
To weaken is to take away the strength or power of something.
- Weaken means to make something less strong.
- It is a regular verb (weaken, weakened, weakening).
- It can be used for physical and abstract things.
- Its opposite is strengthen.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a strong wall turning into sand.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used often in news for storms or markets.
Cultural Insight
Often used in political debates.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
정도
A2An approximate amount or degree.
위에
A1on top of
절대적
B2Being unconditional, unlimited, or not relative to anything else. It describes something that is certain, total, or supreme without comparison.
절대로
A2Never, absolutely not.
우연적이다
B2To be accidental or coincidental; happening by chance.
우연히
B1By chance, accidentally, or unexpectedly. Often used in TOEFL listening narratives or history passages about accidental discoveries.
데리다
A1To take (a person); to pick up.
따라
A2Along, according to.
