Strong can describe force, physical ability, resistance to breaking or intensity.

The idea

Use a strong box for resistance, strong hands for physical ability and strong wind or strong coffee for intensity. Compare with stronger than.

Examples

  • The box is strong enough to hold the books.
  • She has strong hands.
  • A strong wind moved the branches.
  • He prefers strong coffee.
  • The new bag is stronger than the old one.
  • They built a strong table.

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Watch out

The meaning depends on what is described: strong coffee concerns its intensity, not its ability to lift a load.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the comparative for greater resistance. The new bag resists a heavier load than the old one: it is ___. (stronger / weaker)

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    stronger

    Stronger compares the resistance of the bags.

  2. Choose the sense of strong in the coffee phrase. In strong coffee, strong concerns ___. (intensity / physical lifting ability)

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    intensity

    Strong coffee describes intensity of flavour or concentration.

  3. Choose the sense of strong in the wind phrase. In strong wind, strong describes the wind’s ___. (force / temperature)

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    force

    Strong wind describes the wind’s force.

Use it today

Describe something strong and say which meaning you intend.