Other forms: reinforced, reinforcing, reinforces
To reinforce something is to add strength or support to what is already there. Reinforce a wall, reinforce the argument, reinforced concrete.
The physical sense is common in building — reinforced concrete has steel bars inside it — and the figurative one is common everywhere: evidence reinforces a case, a remark reinforces a stereotype. Note the military sense, to reinforce a position with more troops, which is where the word comes from and where reinforcements comes from too. In psychology, reinforcement is the technical term for anything that makes a behaviour more likely to be repeated.
1verbreinforceTo make something stronger by adding support.
“The floor was reinforced before the machine went in.”
synonyms: strengthen, shore up, bolster
2verbideaTo make an idea or feeling stronger.
“Everything about the advert reinforces the stereotype.”
3verbsendTo send more troops or people to support a position.
“The garrison was reinforced overnight.”
4verbrewardTo make a behaviour more likely by rewarding it each time it happens.
“Reinforce the sit with a treat the moment he does it.”
Also accepted in games: strengthen
From re- + inforce.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA