fortify
to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.
to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear: to fortify cotton with nylon.
to make strong; impart strength or vigor to: to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.
to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients: to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.
to strengthen mentally or morally: to be fortified by religious faith.
to confirm or corroborate: to fortify an accusation with facts.
Nutrition. to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content.
to add alcohol to (wine or the like).
to set up defensive works; erect fortifications.
Origin of fortify
1Other words for fortify
Other words from fortify
- for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjective
- for·ti·fi·er, noun
- for·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverb
- non·for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjective
- non·for·ti·fy·ing, adjective
- re·for·ti·fy, verb (used with object), re·for·ti·fied, re·for·ti·fy·ing.
- un·der·for·ti·fy, verb (used with object), un·der·for·ti·fied, un·der·for·ti·fy·ing.
- un·for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjective
Words Nearby fortify
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use fortify in a sentence
But, in terms of our ability to fortify against those impending risks, it’s a system that’s not very adaptable to climate change.
Environment Report: The High Cost of Getting Rid of Water | MacKenzie Elmer | February 8, 2021 | Voice of San DiegoAfter your paddle, stroll over to the Jordan Pond House, where you can soak up the view once more, this time while fortifying yourself on creamy lobster stew and popovers.
The Ultimate Acadia National Park Travel Guide | Virginia M. Wright | February 8, 2021 | Outside OnlineHe thought they were safe, that the Capitol doors and windows were fortified to withstand blows and bullets.
How battered D.C. police made a stand against the Capitol mob | Peter Hermann | January 15, 2021 | Washington PostIn the United States, it’s best known, and well-loved, as a soup of greens, tiny pasta and meatballs, flavorful and fortifying.
Some formulas are already fortified with proteins and carbohydrates derived synthetically or from cow’s milk.
Startups are racing to reproduce breast milk in the lab | Katie McLean | December 18, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
Does Israel offer up any facts to fortify his incendiary charge?
Cynical Race-Baiting Will Fail to Save the Democrats | Ron Christie | April 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe freedom that comes with not having to seek votes can sometimes fortify the spine.
Washington’s Other Car Crash: Obama vs. the Boehner Rule | Michael Tomasky | October 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd volunteers are working around the clock at Fort Tilden beach in the Rockaways to fortify sand dunes.
Hurricane Season Is Starting, and Projections Are Higher Than Average | Eliza Shapiro | May 29, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTShe says she got involved volunteering not only to clean up the beach but to help fortify it.
Superstorm Who? Sandy’s Hard-Hit Beach Towns Reopen for Business | Eliza Shapiro, Josh Dzieza | May 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSo Romney reversed course again, vowing “to fortify his communications and messaging team by adding seasoned operatives.”
Ignore the Pundits, Mitt, They’ll Ruin Your Presidential Campaign | Matt Latimer | July 8, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTYoung Richard, never loath to fortify himself, proved amenable enough to the stiffly laced Canary that his friend set before him.
Mistress Wilding | Rafael SabatiniThat is the most trying part of the day, even for those who have managed to fortify themselves with a good meal.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste TchaikovskyGage began to fortify Boston Neck and brought in some guns which might otherwise have been seized by the people.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William HuntShe saw not this glorious vision, to inspire and fortify her against the possible decay or downfall of her power.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster | Daniel WebsterHe had exhausted and stripped himself in constructing and completing it; he could neither fortify nor add to it.
Toilers of the Sea | Victor Hugo
British Dictionary definitions for fortify
/ (ˈfɔːtɪˌfaɪ) /
(also intr) to make (a place) defensible, as by building walls, digging trenches, etc
to strengthen physically, mentally, or morally
to strengthen, support, or reinforce (a garment, structure, etc)
to add spirits or alcohol to (wine), in order to produce sherry, port, etc
to increase the nutritious value of (a food), as by adding vitamins and minerals
to support or confirm: to fortify an argument with facts
Origin of fortify
1Derived forms of fortify
- fortifiable, adjective
- fortifier, noun
- fortifyingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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