Word
weaken
Phoneticsweak·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwikən/
UK/wˈiːkən/
Definitions
01to make something less strong
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone or something lose their strength, power, or health.
v. to reduce the strength, power, or intensity of something. Transitive — takes a direct object.
日本語:弱める※
“The long illness started to weaken his muscles over several months.”
“The constant scandals began to weaken the public's trust in the government's ability to lead effectively.”
Antonyms
02to become less strong
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to lose your own strength, power, or determination.
v. to become less strong, powerful, or determined. Intransitive — does not take a direct object.
日本語:弱る※
“Her resolve began to weaken as the cold weather got worse.”
“As the storm moved inland, the winds started to weaken, eventually dropping below hurricane force.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “weaken” in context.
Verb
01. weaken and collapse
“The old wooden beams began to weaken and collapse under the weight of the snow.”
verb + and + verb
02. weaken the link between variables
“Recent studies weaken the link between caffeine consumption and heart disease.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. weaken the resolve of the team
“The unexpected defeat did not weaken the resolve of the team to win the championship.”
verb + noun + of + noun
Noun
04. demand weakened
“As global demand weakened, the price of oil began to drop sharply.”
noun + verb
05. position weakened
“The prime minister's position weakened after the scandal was leaked to the press.”
noun + verb
Adverb
06. gradually weaken over time
“The structural integrity of the bridge will gradually weaken over time due to corrosion.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
07. seriously weaken the economy
“High inflation rates could seriously weaken the economy if left unchecked.”
adv + verb + noun
08. significantly weaken the argument
“The discovery of new evidence significantly weakened the argument for the defense.”
adv + verb + noun
Usage
Transitive when used with an object ('weaken the wall') and intransitive when describing a state ('his pulse began to weaken').
Pitfall
The medicine made him to weaken
The medicine made him weaken
After the verb 'make' in the active voice, use the bare infinitive without 'to'.
Real-World Examples
“Ozempic-like drugs appear to weaken more than hunger—they may also reduce cravings for alcohol and other addictive substances.” “And the same heat that drives the demand also weakens the supply: gas turbines lose output as the air warms, and in June several UK plants had to be turned down.” “Trump allies vote to weaken protections for historic sites — not just in D.C.” Etymology
From weak + -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/weaken
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0