strongly

UK: /ˈstrɒŋli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

strong /strɔŋ, strɑŋ/   adj., strong•er /ˈstrɔŋgɚ, ˈstrɑŋ-/  strong•est /ˈstrɔŋgɪst, ˈstrɑŋ-/   adv. 

adj. 

1. having, showing, or involving great power in the body or muscles;
   physically vigorous:
   Is the boy strong enough to lift that heavy box?
2. mentally powerful or vigorous:
   He may be old, but his mind is still strong.
3. very able or powerful in a specific field or respect:
   She is strong in mathematics.
4. powerful in influence, authority, resources, or means:
   a strong nation.
5. aggressive;
   willful:
   To many people his strong personality is annoying.
6. of great force, effectiveness, or power, as by being convincing, etc.:
   strong reasons for abandoning the project.
7. clear and firm;
   loud:
   a strong voice.
8. well-supplied or rich in something specified or implied:
   a strong hand in a card game.
9. able to resist strain, force, wear, etc.:
   strong cloth.
10. not given to nausea or other disturbance:
    a strong stomach.
11. having considerable adhesive force:
    strong glue.
12. firm;
    not giving in;
    unfaltering:
    strong faith.
13. fervent;
    zealous;
    believing in completely:
    [before a noun] a strong liberal.
14. moving or acting with force or power:
    strong winds.
15. distinct, clear, or marked, as an impression or a resemblance:
    a strong similarity in their political positions.
16. intense or concentrated:
    a strong tea.
17. having a large amount of alcohol:
    a strong drink.
18. of a designated number:
    [after a noun or number] an army 20,000 strong.
19. Business having great magnifying or refractive power:
    She needed strong lenses.

adv. 

20. in a strong manner:
    The horse ran strong at the end.

Idioms

21. Idioms, come on strong, [no object] [Informal.] to behave too aggressively:
    I think you frightened her by coming on so strong.

strong•ly, adv.: 

She strongly disagrees with that position.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strong  (strông, strong), adj., strong•er (strông′gər, strong′-), strong•est 

(strông′gist, strong′-), adv. 
adj. 
1. having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power;
   physically vigorous or robust:
   a strong boy.
2. accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical, etc., power or force:
   a strong handshake; With one strong blow the machine stamped out a fender.
3. mentally powerful or vigorous:
   He may be old, but his mind is still strong.
4. especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect:
   She's very strong in mathematics. He's weak at bat, but he's a strong fielder.
5. of great moral power, firmness, or courage:
   strong under temptation.
6. powerful in influence, authority, resources, or means of prevailing or succeeding:
   a strong nation.
7. aggressive;
   willful:
   a strong personality.
8. of great force, effectiveness, potency, or cogency;
   compelling:
   strong reasons; strong arguments.
9. clear and firm;
   loud:
   He has a strong voice.
10. solid or stable;
    healthy;
    thriving:
    The banker predicted a strong economy.
11. well-supplied or rich in something specific:
    a strong hand in trumps.
12. having powerful means to resist attack, assault, or aggression:
    a strong fortress; a strong defense.
13. able to resist strain, force, wear, etc.:
    strong walls; strong cloth.
14. decisively unyielding;
    firm or uncompromising:
    She has strong views about the United Nations. He has a strong sense of duty.
15. fervent;
    zealous;
    thoroughgoing:
    He's a strong Democrat.
16. strenuous or energetic;
    vigorous:
    strong efforts.
17. moving or acting with force or vigor:
    strong winds.
18. distinct or marked;
    vivid, as impressions, resemblance or contrast:
    He bears a strong resemblance to his grandfather.
19. intense, as light or color.
20. having a large proportion of the effective or essential properties or ingredients;
    concentrated:
    strong tea.
21. (of a beverage or food) containing much alcohol:
    strong drink; The fruitcake was too strong.
22. having a high degree of flavor or odor:
    strong cheese; strong perfume.
23. having an unpleasant or offensive flavor or odor, esp. in the process of decay:
    strong butter.
24. of a designated number:
    Marines 20,000 strong.
25. Business [Com.] characterized by steady or advancing prices:
    The market resumed its strong pace after yesterday's setback.
26. Grammar
    • (of Germanic verbs) having vowel change in the root in inflected forms, as the English verbs sing, sang, sung;
      ride, rode, ridden.
    • (of Germanic nouns and adjectives) inflected with endings that are generally distinctive of case, number, and gender, as German alter Mann "old man.''
    • belonging to the morphophonemically less regular of two inflectional subtypes.
27. Phonetics (of a word or syllable) stressed.
28. Optics having great magnifying or refractive power:
    a strong microscope.

adv. 
29. strongly.
30. come on strong, [Slang.] to behave in an aggressive, ardent, or flamboyant manner:
    When you're interviewed for the job, don't come on too strong.
• bef. 900; (adjective, adjectival) Middle English strang, strong, Old English; cognate with Middle Dutch stranc, Old Norse strangr; (adverb, adverbial) Middle English strange, stronge, Old English; cognate with Old High German strango; akin to string
strong′ish, adj. 
strong′ly, adv. 
strong′ness, n. 
Synonyms
• 1. mighty, sturdy, brawny, sinewy, hardy, muscular, stout, stalwart.
• 4. potent, capable, efficient.
• 5. valiant, brave.
• 7. bold, intense.
• 8. persuasive, cogent, impressive, conclusive.
• 10. steady, firm, secure.
• 14. unwavering, resolute.
• 15. fervid, vehement.
• 18. stark, sharp.
• 19. brilliant, vivid.
• 22. pungent, aromatic, sharp, piquant, hot, spicy, biting.
• 23. smelly, rank.
Antonyms
• 1. weak.