stiffen

[ stif-uhn ]
See synonyms for: stiffenstiffenedstiffening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make stiff.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become stiff.

  2. to become suddenly tense, rigid, or taut, as in bracing oneself for or drawing back from shock, fear, or displeasure: He stiffened, expecting to hear the worst.

Origin of stiffen

1
First recorded in 1490–1500; stiff + -en1

Other words from stiffen

  • o·ver·stiff·en, verb
  • un·stiff·ened, adjective

Words Nearby stiffen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use stiffen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stiffen

stiffen

/ (ˈstɪfən) /


verb
  1. to make or become stiff or stiffer

  2. (intr) to become suddenly tense or unyielding

Derived forms of stiffen

  • stiffener, noun

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