stiffen

CEFRB2

/ˈstɪfən/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To become or make stiff.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To become stiff.

Examples

  • She felt him stiffen in surprise when he heard the news.

  • Mennad's body started to stiffen.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meaning
  1. To make stiff.

More examples

In context
  • Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law.

  • As Willis spoke and tried to smile the voices inside him rang together like a bell, stiffening him and hollowing him and emptying him of his troubled song.

  • Bewildered by the unexpected greeting, my son stiffened, but managed a polite answer.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

As the glue dried, it began to blank and become hard and solid.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English stifnen, equivalent to stiff + -en.