strong
strong — adjective
1. Having great physical force or strength — able to lift heavy items, perform dema
Having great physical force or strength — able to lift heavy items, perform demanding tasks, or exert power through movement.
Henrik is the strongest person in the village and can carry two sacks at once.
strongest + physical ability comparison
The strong current pulled the swimmer away from the shore within seconds.
strong describing a natural force (current)
Nkechi's strong arms lifted the heavy wooden table with little effort.
A strong wind blew the roof off several houses in the coastal town last night.
Eri trained for months to build a stronger upper body for the competition.
- weak
lacking physical strength or force
常見錯誤
2. Working well or producing good results; of a high standard or likely to succeed.
Working well or producing good results; of a high standard or likely to succeed.
The company has built a strong team of engineers who solve problems quickly.
strong team = effective group
Lakshmi presented a strong argument that convinced the committee to change the rules.
Their business remained strong throughout the economic downturn.
The school has a strong reputation for teaching music and art.
Noa's application was strong because of her years of volunteer experience in the region.
- weak
not effective or of poor quality
常見錯誤
3. Having a lot of ability in a particular activity, subject, or type of work; doin
Having a lot of ability in a particular activity, subject, or type of work; doing something very well.
Quan is particularly strong in mathematics and often helps his classmates with homework.
strong in + academic subject
Anna's strongest subject at university was Chinese literature.
strongest subject = best at
The team's strongest players all graduated from the same training academy in Seoul.
Maeve is not very strong at public speaking, but she writes excellent reports.
A good manager knows each worker's strong points and assigns tasks accordingly.
- weak
not good at something; poor in ability
用法筆記
Often followed by 'in' or 'at' to specify the area of skill: 'strong in mathematics', 'strong at public speaking'.
4. Firmly held, expressed with confidence, and difficult to change or argue against
Firmly held, expressed with confidence, and difficult to change or argue against — used about opinions, beliefs, evidence, or feelings.
Eve holds a strong belief that education should be free for everyone.
strong belief = firmly held opinion
The police found strong evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene.
strong evidence = convincing proof
Aylin has strong feelings about protecting the local park from property developers.
There were strong objections from residents when the factory planned to expand.
Rafael offered a strong defence of his research during the university panel discussion.
- firm
very close in meaning; 'firm' is slightly more formal and more about resolve than conviction
- determined
focuses on the person's will to act, not the belief itself
- resolute
more formal; describes someone who will not change their mind
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns such as 'opinion', 'belief', 'view', 'evidence', 'feeling', 'objection', and 'defence'. Not used for physical objects.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I have a strong feeling that he is lying.' (correct in the emotional sense) — Note: 'strong feeling' can mean a firm intuition OR a deep emotion. Context makes the meaning clear.
5. Easily noticed by the senses — used for tastes, smells, colours, or effects that
Easily noticed by the senses — used for tastes, smells, colours, or effects that are intense rather than gentle.
The cheese had such a strong smell that Ingrid opened the kitchen window.
strong smell + result clause
Henrik prefers strong coffee with no sugar or milk added.
strong coffee = concentrated, not diluted
A strong smell of garlic drifted from the restaurant's open kitchen door.
The flowers in the garden gave off a strong, sweet scent after the rain.
Eri added too much chili powder, making the soup too strong for the children.
用法筆記
Describes sensory experiences. The opposite 'weak' is less common for taste — 'mild' or 'light' is often preferred.
6. Not easily broken, damaged, or destroyed; able to support heavy weight, resist p
Not easily broken, damaged, or destroyed; able to support heavy weight, resist pressure, or stay healthy.
The bridge is made of strong steel and supports heavy trucks crossing the river.
strong steel = resistant material
Nkechi has a strong immune system, so she rarely catches colds during winter.
strong immune system = healthy, resistant to illness
The walls of the ancient castle were built with strong stone blocks.
The old wooden table was surprisingly strong, holding all the heavy books without a wobble.
Strong rope is needed to tie the boat to the dock during a storm.
- sturdy
specifically for objects that are solidly built and unlikely to fall apart
- durable
describes things that last a long time without wearing out
- robust
suggests strength and healthiness; often used for systems or bodies
- tough
informal; describes something hard to damage or someone who endures difficulty
常見錯誤
7. showing your opinion or position in a direct, forceful manner — often in speakin
showing your opinion or position in a direct, forceful manner — often in speaking or writing meant to be clear and definite rather than gentle or polite.
Senator Park issued a strong statement rejecting the proposed tax increase.
strong statement — a forceful public comment
Esme's strong criticism of the plan made several board members uncomfortable.
The newspaper published a strong editorial calling for better road safety.
A strong letter of complaint arrived from the residents' association yesterday.
用法筆記
Often used with nouns like 'statement', 'criticism', 'letter', 'opinion', 'position'.
8. describing particular words or phrases that are intentionally blunt, cutting, or
describing particular words or phrases that are intentionally blunt, cutting, or plain in what they say — rather than describing how the speaker generally behaves.
The manager's strong words during the meeting upset several junior staff members.
strong words — direct, blunt phrasing
Sofie's reply contained some strong phrases that surprised her colleagues.
The review used strong terms, describing the film as a complete waste of time.
Bao chose his words carefully to avoid sounding too strong during the debate.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 7: sense 7 describes the person's style of expression, while this sense describes the actual words or phrases used.
9. containing swear words or other expressions that most people find insulting, oft
containing swear words or other expressions that most people find insulting, often used when someone is very angry.
The movie was rated for adults because it contained strong language throughout.
strong language = swear words
Yael shouted a stream of strong words at the driver who nearly hit his bicycle.
Parents complained that the comedy show used too much strong language before nine o'clock.
The comedian's strong material included jokes that some audience members found offensive.
用法筆記
Common in TV and film rating systems: 'contains strong language' means swear words are used. Distinguish from sense 8, which covers blunt but not necessarily offensive words.
常見錯誤
10. having a high chance of taking place or being true, based on solid evidence or g
having a high chance of taking place or being true, based on solid evidence or good reasons.
There is a strong chance of rain this afternoon, so bring an umbrella.
strong chance / strong possibility
Tomás is a strong candidate for the promotion with his years of experience.
strong candidate
The economy shows strong signs of recovery after the recent downturn.
Bilal has a strong possibility of winning the scholarship this year.
- likely
less emphatic; simply probable rather than very probable
- probable
more formal; suggests a high degree of certainty
- compelling
used for arguments or evidence that strongly suggest something is true
11. used directly after a number to show how many people or things make up a group.
used directly after a number to show how many people or things make up a group.
The protest was fifty thousand strong, filling the streets of the capital.
number + strong = group size
The company has a sales team two hundred strong across the whole region.
The choir is forty strong and performs at events all over the city.
A crowd five hundred strong gathered in the square to hear the speech.
- in number
a phrase used similarly after numbers to indicate group size
文法句型
number + strong
用法筆記
Always appears immediately after a number (e.g. '100 strong', 'twenty strong'). Cannot be used before a noun (*'a strong team of fifty').
常見錯誤
12. a type of flour with a high level of gluten, which gives bread and pizza bases a
a type of flour with a high level of gluten, which gives bread and pizza bases a firm, chewy texture.
Christopher bought strong flour to bake bread for the weekend farmers' market.
strong flour for bread
For a crispy pizza base, use strong flour rather than the plain type.
Johanna checked the packet and switched to strong flour for her baguette dough.
Élise mixed strong flour with water and yeast to make dinner rolls.
- bread flour
American English equivalent of strong flour
- high-gluten flour
a more technical term used by professional bakers
- plain flour
all-purpose flour with less gluten, used for cakes and pastries
用法筆記
This term is more common in British English. In American English, 'bread flour' is the usual term for the same product.
13. in chemistry, describing an acid or base whose molecules almost fully break apar
in chemistry, describing an acid or base whose molecules almost fully break apart into charged particles when dissolved in water — for example, hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide.
In the lab, Layla carefully poured the strong acid into a glass beaker.
strong + acid for fully ionising acids
Strong alkalis can cause serious burns if they touch bare skin.
The chemistry teacher explained why strong bases conduct electricity better than weak ones do.
Testing showed that the solution contained a strong acid with a very low pH value.
During the titration, Dr. Müller showed the strong acid turning the indicator bright red.
- concentrated
refers to amount of substance per volume, not degree of ionisation
- weak
describes an acid or base that only partly ionises in water
文法句型
strong + noun (acid/alkali/base)
用法筆記
Usually placed before nouns such as acid, alkali, base, or electrolyte. The opposite in this chemical sense is weak.
常見錯誤
14. existing or happening in large amounts, numbers, or degree — used with things li
existing or happening in large amounts, numbers, or degree — used with things like support, demand, sales, evidence, or turnout to indicate impressive quantity.
The festival drew a strong crowd of more than ten thousand visitors.
strong + crowd for a large number of people
Jiwoo received strong support from her team throughout the project.
strong support for abundant backing or approval
There is strong evidence that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease.
The company reported strong sales during the holiday shopping season.
Despite the rain, there was a strong turnout at the neighbourhood meeting.
- large
more general; strong adds the nuance of being notable or impressive
- abundant
more formal; suggests plentiful supply
- substantial
neutral register; emphasises size or importance
文法句型
strong + noun (support/evidence/demand)
15. describes a connection, bond, tradition, or feeling that has become deep and las
describes a connection, bond, tradition, or feeling that has become deep and lasting — continuing to exist and function well over many years.
Beatrix and her partner have a strong relationship that has lasted for decades.
strong relationship for a lasting, healthy connection
The university maintains a strong tradition of academic excellence.
strong tradition for a deeply rooted custom
Despite the crisis, the company kept strong ties with its long-term partners.
The village has a strong sense of community that residents truly value.
Their friendship grew even stronger through every difficulty they faced together.
文法句型
strong + noun (relationship/tradition/bond)
用法筆記
Often applied to relationships, institutions, traditions, or bonds that have survived challenges and lasted over time.
16. Having a high economic value or price that tends to stay high or increase over t
Having a high economic value or price that tends to stay high or increase over time.
The Japanese yen remained strong against the US dollar this quarter.
strong + currency for high and rising exchange value
Investors showed confidence in the company's strong share price.
The economy posted strong growth despite global uncertainty.
Alessia decided to sell her portfolio while the market was still strong.
The strong performance of the technology sector attracted new investors.
- weak
describes a falling or low-value currency or market
文法句型
strong + noun (currency/economy/market)
用法筆記
Commonly used with currency names (the dollar, the yen, the euro) to describe a high exchange rate, or with terms like market, economy, and growth to describe rising prices and healthy financial conditions.
strong — adverb
1. to act with such force, harshness, or directness toward someone that the person
to act with such force, harshness, or directness toward someone that the person feels uneasy or offended.
Ayesha came on too strong at the meeting, so her boss asked her to relax.
phrase: come on strong in workplace situations
Layla felt Christopher came on too strong saying he loved her after a week.
The car salesman came on too strong, so Mrs. Okonkwo walked out of the showroom.
Quinn found that coming on too strong in a debate made people stop listening.
Élise warned her brother not to come on too strong with their grandparents' friends.
- pushy
more general adjective describing a person's tendency, not a specific action
- aggressively
stronger negative connotation than 'strong'; implies hostility
- gently
opposite in manner — soft and careful rather than forceful
- reservedly
opposite in directness — holding back rather than pushing forward
文法句型
come on strong
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'too' (come on too strong) to emphasise that the behaviour goes beyond what is socially acceptable.
常見錯誤
2. to try very hard and with determination to succeed or gain control in a competit
to try very hard and with determination to succeed or gain control in a competitive situation, such as a game, negotiation, or contest.
Imani came on strong in the final round and won the chess tournament.
phrase: come on strong in competition
The basketball team came on strong in the last quarter and took the lead.
phrase: come on strong in sports
Sayaka came on strong during the presentation and answered every question with confidence.
Elena came on strong in the negotiations and secured a better deal for her company.
Jorge came on strong in the final minutes and scored the winning goal.
- assertively
focuses on confident self-expression rather than effort
- determinedly
emphasises persistence over a longer period
- half-heartedly
doing something without real effort or enthusiasm
- passively
waiting for things to happen instead of pushing for results
文法句型
come on strong
用法筆記
Often describes a shift in effort — someone who was not trying hard before suddenly puts in maximum effort. Common in sports, business, and competitive contexts.