Stiffen

Pronunciation: /ˈstɪfən/

Definitions of stiffen

verb to make or become stiff or rigid

Example Sentences

A1 When I get scared, my muscles stiffen up.

A2 The cold weather caused the metal to stiffen and become brittle.

B1 The new regulations will likely stiffen penalties for companies that violate environmental laws.

B2 The government's decision to stiffen border controls has sparked controversy among citizens.

C1 The company's policy on employee conduct has gradually stiffened over the years.

C2 The athlete's training regimen has helped stiffen his resolve to win the upcoming championship.

Examples of stiffen in a Sentence

formal The metal rods are designed to stiffen the structure and prevent any bending.

informal If you don't want the cake to collapse, you need to let it cool and stiffen before adding the frosting.

slang I could feel my muscles stiffen up after that intense workout.

figurative His resolve only seemed to stiffen in the face of adversity.

Grammatical Forms of stiffen

• past tense: stiffened
• plural: stiffens
• comparative: stiffer
• superlative: stiffest
• present tense: stiffen
• future tense: will stiffen
• perfect tense: have stiffened
• continuous tense: is stiffening
• singular: stiffen
• positive degree: stiff
• infinitive: to stiffen
• gerund: stiffening
• participle: stiffened

Origin and Evolution of stiffen

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'stiffen' originated from the Old English word 'stifian' which means to make rigid or firm.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'stiffen' has retained its original meaning of making something rigid or firm, but it has also come to be used in figurative contexts to describe becoming inflexible or resistant to change.