weaken
gb/wˈikən/ us/wˈikən/
B1
English
~ 10000
gyengül, elgyengül, gyengít, meggyengít, leértékelődik, hígít, felhígít
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] weakens
As the afternoon went on, the storm gradually weakened.
A délután előrehaladtával a vihar fokozatosan gyengült.
His eyesight has weakened with age.
A kor előrehaladtával gyengült a látása.
Support for the new law has weakened in recent months.
After several days without food, she quickly weakened.
The signal weakened as we drove into the mountains.
Learner examples
The wind started strong but then it weakened.
A szél eleinte erős volt, de aztán gyengült.
His legs weakened after the long run.
A hosszú futás után elgyengültek a lábai.
My grandma's memory has weakened in the last few years.
The team's performance weakened in the second half.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I feel weaken"* instead of *"I feel weak"*. Use **weak** as an adjective for how you feel, and **weaken** as a verb for the change: *"The medicine weakened me"* or *"I feel weak"*, not *"I feel weaken"*.
Meaning
become less strong or effective
Collocations
his health weakened
|the economy weakened
|the storm weakened
|support weakened
|her voice weakened
|the signal weakened
Synonyms
deteriorate (Focuses on general worsening, not only on loss of strength.)
Antonyms
strengthen (Means to become stronger or more effective, the direct opposite process.)
Themes
daily life
|health
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become less strong or less able to work well.
To lose strength, power, or effectiveness.
VERB
B2
2
gyengít
B1
meggyengít
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] weakens [something]
The scandal seriously weakened the president's position.
A botrány komolyan meggyengítette az elnök pozícióját.
Skipping training will only weaken your muscles.
Ha kihagyod az edzést, az csak gyengíti az izmaidat.
The new policy could weaken environmental protections.
Adding too many exceptions would weaken the law.
The long delay weakened their chances of success.
Learner examples
Smoking can weaken your heart and lungs.
A dohányzás gyengítheti a szívedet és a tüdődet.
The heavy rain weakened the old bridge.
A heves eső meggyengítette a régi hidat.
These mistakes weaken your argument.
The bad news weakened her hope.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use **weaken** where **lower** or **reduce** is more natural, for example *"weaken the price"*. In this case, say *"lower the price"* or *"reduce the price"*. Use **weaken** when you talk about strength, power, or effectiveness, not just any number or amount.
Meaning
make someone or something less strong
Collocations
weaken the economy
|weaken an argument
|weaken the team
|weaken security
|weaken his position
|weaken her confidence
Synonyms
undermine (Often used for slowly or secretly weakening support, confidence, or authority.)
Antonyms
reinforce (Means to make something stronger or more effective, especially support or an argument.)
Themes
business
|politics
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person, thing, or idea less strong or less effective.
To cause someone or something to lose strength, power, or effectiveness.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
3
gyengül
B2
Usage pattern:
[currency/market] weakens against [currency]
The dollar weakened against the euro after the inflation report.
Az inflációs jelentés után a dollár gyengült az euróval szemben.
Tech stocks weakened in late afternoon trading.
A technológiai részvények a késő délutáni kereskedésben gyengültek.
Oil prices weakened on fears of lower demand.
Learner examples
The yen weakened against the dollar last month.
A jen a múlt hónapban gyengült a dollárral szemben.
Share prices weakened after the company announced lower sales.
A részvényárak gyengültek, miután a cég csökkenő eladásokról számolt be.
The currency may weaken if inflation stays high.
Meaning
lose value in financial markets
Collocations
the dollar weakened against the euro
|share prices weakened
|markets weakened slightly
|the currency weakened further
|stocks weakened in late trading
Synonyms
fall (Very common verb for prices and markets going down; broader and less specific about strength.)
Antonyms
strengthen (In finance, means a currency or market gains value, the opposite of weakening.)
Themes
business
|finance
|economy
Definition
When the value of money, shares, or a market goes down.
Of a currency, stock, or market: to decrease in price or value, especially relative to something else.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] weakens [a liquid/mixture] with [something]
She weakened the coffee with a little milk and water.
Egy kis tejjel és vízzel hígította a kávét.
You need to weaken the solution before pouring it into the tank.
Fel kell hígítanod az oldatot, mielőtt a tartályba öntöd.
Adding too much ice will weaken the flavor of the drink.
The teacher asked them to weaken the paint with water before using it.
Learner examples
Please don't weaken my tea too much.
Kérlek, ne hígítsd fel túlságosan a teámat.
He weakened the soup by adding more water.
Több víz hozzáadásával felhígította a levest.
The chemist weakened the acid before using it in class.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use **weaken** instead of **soften** for things that are physically hard, for example *"weaken the bread"*. Use **soften** for physical softness, and **weaken** when you want to talk about strength or concentration, like taste or chemical strength.
Meaning
make a liquid less strong
Collocations
weaken the coffee
|weaken the solution
|weaken the mixture
|weaken the drink with water
|weaken the flavor
Synonyms
dilute (More technical and common in scientific or formal contexts; **weaken** is more general and everyday.)
Antonyms
concentrate (Means to make a liquid stronger or more concentrated, the opposite of weakening it.)
Themes
science
|food
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
To make a drink or liquid less strong, for example by adding water.
To reduce the strength, concentration, or flavor of a liquid or mixture, often by adding another substance such as water.
Grammar
Dictionary form
weaken
IPA
GB/wˈikən/
US/wˈikən/
Syllables & stress
weak - en (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (weak)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: weaken
- 3rd Person Singular: weakens
- Present Participle: weakening
- Past: weakened
Word family
Expressions
weaken over time
1/wˈikən ˈoʊvɚ tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
gradually become less strong
To slowly become less strong as time passes.
Examples
- The metal will weaken over time if it is not protected from rust.
- Relationships can weaken over time without effort from both people.
weaken someone's resolve
1/wˈikən sˈʌmwˌʌnz ɹizˈɑlv/
fixed phrase
reduce someone's determination
To make someone less sure that they want to do something difficult or unpleasant.
Examples
- The long wait began to weaken his resolve to complain.
- Her kind words weakened my resolve to stay angry.
weaken the economy
1/wˈikən ðə ɪkˈɑnəmi/
fixed phrase
reduce an economy's strength
To make a country or region's economy less strong, less active, or less healthy.
Examples
- Higher interest rates could weaken the economy.
- A long strike would weaken the economy of the region.