harden
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to become firm, stiff, or solid.
to transition from a liquid, soft, or malleable state to a solid or rigid one.
Simple“Wait for the concrete to harden before you try to walk on it.”
In context“The molten lava began to harden as soon as it came into contact with the cool ocean water.”
UsageOften used as an intransitive verb describing natural processes.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
to make something firm or solid.
to cause a substance to become rigid or resistant to pressure.
Simple“The cold weather will harden the ground, making it difficult to dig.”
In context“Special chemicals are added to the mixture to harden the plastic during the manufacturing process.”
UsageUsed transitively when an external force or agent causes the change.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to become more tough or less easily upset by difficult things.
to become emotionally callous, resilient, or less susceptible to sympathy or pain.
Simple“Years of working in the emergency room had hardened his heart to suffering.”
In context“The soldiers had been hardened by months of combat, showing little emotion even in dire circumstances.”
UsageFrequently used with 'heart' or 'attitude' as the object.
SynonymsdesensitiseinuretoughenAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
to make a computer system or website safer against hackers.
to reduce a system's vulnerability by reducing its attack surface and layering technical protections.
Simple“The IT team needs to harden the server before we launch the new site.”
In context“System administrators must harden the operating system by disabling unnecessary services and enforcing strict password policies.”
UsageA transitive verb used specifically in the context of cybersecurity.