Weaken

Pronunciation: /ˈwikən/

Definitions of weaken

verb to make or become weaker; to diminish in strength or effectiveness

Example Sentences

A1 Eating too much sugar can weaken your teeth.

A2 Lack of exercise can weaken your muscles over time.

B1 Stress can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness.

B2 Skipping meals can weaken your body's ability to function properly.

C1 Continuous exposure to harmful chemicals can weaken the structure of the building.

C2 The economic crisis has the potential to weaken the stability of the entire region.

Examples of weaken in a Sentence

formal The economic downturn has begun to weaken consumer confidence.

informal I think skipping meals can weaken your immune system.

slang Dude, don't skip leg day at the gym or you'll weaken your gains.

figurative A lack of communication can weaken the bond between friends.

Grammatical Forms of weaken

• past tense: weakened
• plural: weaken
• comparative: weaker
• superlative: weakest
• present tense: weaken
• future tense: will weaken
• perfect tense: have weakened
• continuous tense: is weakening
• singular: weakens
• positive degree: weak
• infinitive: weaken
• gerund: weakening
• participle: weakened

Origin and Evolution of weaken

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'weaken' originated from the Old English word 'wacnian' which means to become weak or feeble.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'weaken' has retained its original meaning of losing strength or vigor, but has also expanded to include a broader sense of diminishing in power or effectiveness.