strut

1 of 3

verb (1)

strutted; strutting

intransitive verb

1
: to become turgid : swell
2
a
: to walk with a proud gait
b
: to walk with a pompous and affected air

transitive verb

: to parade (something, such as clothes) with a show of pride
strutter noun
struttingly adverb

strut

2 of 3

noun

1
: a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length
2
: a pompous step or walk
3
: arrogant behavior : swagger

strut

3 of 3

verb (2)

strutted; strutting

transitive verb

: to provide, stiffen, support, or hold apart with or as if with a strut
Phrases
strut one's stuff
: to display one's best work : show off

Examples of strut in a Sentence

Verb (1) the cat strutted proudly onto the porch with a bird in its mouth strutting his blue ribbon for all to see Noun the strut of a supermodel
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Yet everything remains the same for Delia whose romantic fantasies have given way to an embrace of her roles as dutiful wife and loving mother despite the sneering condescension and outright physical abuse at the hands of her strutting petty tyrant husband Ivano (Valerio Mastandrea). Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2024 This weekend, Chicagoans will be strutting their fantastical, magical and spooky stuff at Halloween parties all over town. Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
In another, fans directed profanities and one-finger salutes to Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., who blew kisses to the stands and seemed to strut after making a wild catch in the fourth inning. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024 Then, halfway through the first verse, Kristofferson, 86, struts onstage, and begins singing with Cash, her right arm wrapped around a man she’s known most of her life. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for strut 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English strouten, from Old English strūtian to stand out stiffly, struggle; akin to Middle High German strozzen to be swollen

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strut was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near strut

Cite this Entry

“Strut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strut. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

strut

1 of 2 verb
strutted; strutting
1
: to walk in a stiff proud way
2
: to parade (as clothes) with a show of pride
strutter noun

strut

2 of 2 noun
1
: a bar or brace to resist pressure in the direction of its length
2
: a strutting step or walk

More from Merriam-Webster on strut

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