redouble

Imagine a storm brewing - it's unpleasant enough on its own. But if the winds redouble, meaning they grow much stronger, that storm becomes truly dangerous. To redouble means to increase something greatly or to make a stronger effort than before. It is often used for effort, energy, care, or intensity. If you're already working hard on a project and your boss asks you to redouble your efforts, prepare for a long night. It can also describe something becoming stronger on its own, like fear, applause, or rain that suddenly grows more intense.

To redouble something is to increase it greatly, especially effort, energy, intensity, or force. It often suggests making a renewed and stronger push after something has already begun. For example: "As the deadline approached, she had to redouble her efforts to finish the report." This means she did not merely work a little more; she worked with much greater focus and determination.

The word redouble comes from a French term meaning "to double again," hinting at a layering of increase. It's often used when facing challenges or needing to overcome obstacles. If you are trying to learn a new skill, you might redouble your practice time to improve more quickly.

It can be used both transitively and intransitively. You can redouble your efforts, and protests, rain, or applause can also redouble. While it sometimes appears in fairly literal contexts, it is most often used in figurative or general language to describe actions, reactions, or conditions becoming stronger. "The protests redoubled after the government's announcement" suggests they became more intense and widespread.

So, when something needs a serious boost - whether it's effort, intensity, pressure, or determination - redouble is a strong word to use. It suggests not just doing more, but pushing much harder than before.