weak·en

verb

/ˈwiːkən/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they weaken	/ˈwiːkən/ /ˈwiːkən/
he / she / it weakens	/ˈwiːkənz/ /ˈwiːkənz/
past simple weakened	/ˈwiːkənd/ /ˈwiːkənd/
past participle weakened	/ˈwiːkənd/ /ˈwiːkənd/
-ing form weakening	/ˈwiːkənɪŋ/ /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/

[transitive, intransitive] weaken (somebody/something) to make somebody/something less strong or powerful; to become less strong or powerful（使）虚弱，衰弱；减弱；削弱
- The team has been weakened by injury.这个队因伤实力减弱。
- The new evidence weakens the case against her.新的证据削弱了诉她的案由。
- This new story has severely weakened the President’s position.这条新闻严重削弱了总统的地位。
- His authority is steadily weakening.他的权威日趋减弱。
Extra Examples
- The British pound continued to weaken against the dollar.英镑兑美元继续走弱。
- The division of Germany had served to weaken the party.德国的分裂导致了该政党衰落。
- The military was badly weakened by the sanctions.军队因制裁而受到严重削弱。
- The regime was fatally weakened by the unrest and violence.社会动荡和暴力活动使这一政权遭到了致命性的削弱。
- a move designed to weaken the rebels旨在削弱叛乱分子力量的行动
- exchange rates that dramatically weakened the dollar导致美元大幅贬值的汇率
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- considerably
- greatly
- seriously
- …
verb + weaken
- begin to
- start to
- continue to
- …
[transitive, intransitive] weaken (something) to make something less physically strong; to become less physically strong使强度减弱；削弱
- The explosion had weakened the building's foundations.爆炸松动了这座楼房的地基。
- His health was weakened by overwork.他的健康因过度劳累而恶化。
- She felt her legs weaken.她觉得两腿无力。
Extra Examples
- The explosion had weakened the building's foundations considerably.爆炸极大地削弱了这座楼房的地基。
- She felt her legs weaken further as she climbed higher up the slope.当她爬上斜坡更高的时候，她感到双腿更加无力。
- He began to weaken as his opponent continued the onslaught.对手继续猛攻，他开始变得虚弱了。
Topics Health problemsc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- considerably
- greatly
- seriously
- …
verb + weaken
- begin to
- start to
- continue to
- …
[intransitive, transitive] to become or make somebody become less determined or certain about something使（肯定程度）减弱；动摇；犹豫
- You must not agree to do it. Don't weaken.你们一定不能同意做这件事。别心软。
- weaken something Nothing could weaken his resolve to continue.什么也不能削弱他继续下去的决心。
Extra Examples
- The judgement serves to weaken public confidence in the courts.这个判决导致公众对法院的信心下降。
- She felt herself beginning to weaken in the face of his persuasion.面对他的劝说，她觉得自己开始犹豫了。
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1
[intransitive] (of a natural force) to become less strong减弱；减轻
- The storm eventually weakened.暴风雨最终减弱下来。
[intransitive, transitive] (of a country's currency or economy) to become less strong; to make a currency or economy less strong（使）走弱；（使）贬值
- weaken (against something) The dollar has weakened against the euro.美元对欧元贬值了。
- weaken something measures that could weaken the economy会弱化经济的措施
opposite strengthen