[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/toughen/)

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# toughen

verb (toughen, toughens, toughened, toughening)

«toughen» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To toughen something is to make it stronger and harder to break or damage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#m1)
2. To toughen (up) a person is to make them stronger and better at dealing with difficult things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#m2)
3. To make rules or laws stricter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in science and technology: toughened glass is heated and cooled so it is stronger and breaks into small, safer pieces. In everyday life: "toughen up" (sometimes said unkindly). In news: the government toughened the rules.

### Examples

- Toughened glass is used in car windows. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x1)
- The hard training toughened the players. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x2)
- Hiking toughens your feet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x3)
- The school toughened its rules on phones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x4)
- Toughened glass breaks into small pieces, not sharp shards. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x5)
- Boots get toughened by wearing them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: toughened. From "tough" + -en (to make). Pronounced "TUFF-en". "Toughen up" can sound unkind if said to someone who is upset.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «toughen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/toughen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«toughen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/toughen.html) on Mova free.