(stronger, strongest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Someone who is strong is healthy with good muscles and can move or carry heavy things, or do hard physical work.
I'm not strong enough to carry him...
I feared I wouldn't be able to control such a strong horse.
? weak
ADJ
2.
Someone who is strong is confident and determined, and is not easily influenced or worried by other people.
He is sharp and manipulative with a strong personality...
It's up to managers to be strong and do what they believe is right...
? weak
ADJ
3.
Strong objects or materials are not easily broken and can support a lot of weight or resist a lot of strain.
The vacuum flask has a strong casing, which won't crack or chip...
Glue the mirror in with a strong adhesive...
? weak
ADJ
• strongly
The fence was very strongly built, with very large posts.
ADV: ADV -ed
4.
A strong wind, current, or other force has a lot of power or speed, and can cause heavy things to move.
Strong winds and torrential rain combined to make conditions terrible for golfers in the Scottish Open...
A fairly strong current seemed to be moving the whole boat...
= powerful
ADJ
• strongly
The metal is strongly attracted to the surface.
ADV: ADV with v
5.
A strong impression or influence has a great effect on someone.
We're glad if our music makes a strong impression, even if it's a negative one...
Teenage idols have a strong influence on our children...
ADJ
• strongly
He is strongly influenced by Spanish painters such as Goya and El Greco...
ADV: ADV with v
6.
If you have strong opinions on something or express them using strong words, you have extreme or very definite opinions which you are willing to express or defend.
She is known to hold strong views on Cuba...
There has been strong criticism of the military regime...
It condemned in extremely strong language what it called Britain's iniquitous campaign...
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• strongly
Obviously you feel very strongly about this...
We are strongly opposed to the presence of America in this region...
ADV: usu ADV with v
7.
If someone in authority takes strong action, they act firmly and severely.
The government has said it will take strong action against any further strikes...
ADJ: usu ADJ n
8.
If there is a strong case or argument for something, it is supported by a lot of evidence.
The testimony presented offered a strong case for acquitting her on grounds of self-defense...
The evidence that such investment promotes growth is strong...
ADJ
• strongly
He argues strongly for retention of NATO as a guarantee of peace...
These are conditions said by doctors to be strongly indicative of heart failure.
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj/adv
9.
If there is a strong possibility or chance that something is true or will happen, it is very likely to be true or to happen.
There is a strong possibility that the cat contracted the condition by eating contaminated pet food.
ADJ
10.
Your strong points are your best qualities or talents, or the things you are good at.
Discretion is not Jeremy's strong point...
Cynics argue that the EU is stronger on rhetoric than on concrete action.
ADJ: ADJ n, v-link ADJ on n
11.
A strong competitor, candidate, or team is good or likely to succeed.
She was a strong contender for Britain's Olympic team...
ADJ: usu ADJ n
12.
If a relationship or link is strong, it is close and likely to last for a long time.
He felt he had a relationship strong enough to talk frankly to Sarah...
Delhi first began to develop strong ties with Moscow in the 1950s.
ADJ
13.
A strong currency, economy, or industry has a high value or is very successful.
The US dollar continued its strong performance in Tokyo today...
The local economy is strong and the population is growing...
= robust
? weak
ADJ
14.
If something is a strong element or part of something else, it is an important or large part of it.
We are especially encouraged by the strong representation, this year, of women in information technology disciplines...
ADJ
15.
You can use strong when you are saying how many people there are in a group. For example, if a group is twenty strong, there are twenty people in it.
Ukraine indicated that it would establish its own army, 400,000 strong.
...a 1,000-strong crowd.
ADJ: num ADJ
16.
A strong drink, chemical, or drug contains a lot of the particular substance which makes it effective.
Strong coffee or tea late at night may cause sleeplessness...
ADJ
17.
A strong colour, flavour, smell, sound, or light is intense and easily noticed.
As she went past there was a gust of strong perfume...
The wine goes with strong and mild cheese alike.
ADJ
• strongly
He leaned over her, smelling strongly of sweat...
ADV: ADV with v
18.
If someone has a strong accent, they speak in a distinctive way that shows very clearly what country or region they come from.
'Good, Mr Ryle,' he said in English with a strong French accent.
= pronounced
? slight
ADJ
19.
You can say that someone has strong features or a strong face if their face has large, distinctive features.
He had a strong Greek nose and olive-black eyes.
ADJ
20.
If someone or something is still going strong, they are still alive, in good condition, or popular after a long time. (INFORMAL)
The old machinery was still going strong.
PHRASE: v-link PHR