string

1 of 3

noun

1
a
: a cord usually used to bind, fasten, or tie
often used attributively
a string bag
b
: something that resembles a string
garnished with potato strings
2
a
archaic : a cord (such as a tendon or ligament) of an animal body
b
: a plant fiber (such as a leaf vein)
3
a
: the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument
b strings plural
(1)
: the stringed instruments of an orchestra
(2)
: the players of such instruments
4
: the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow
5
a
: a group of objects threaded on a string
a string of fish
a string of pearls
b(1)
: a series of things arranged in or as if in a line
a string of cars
a string of names
(2)
: a sequence of like items (such as bits, characters, or words)
c
: a group of business properties scattered geographically
a string of newspapers
d
: the animals and especially horses belonging to or used by one individual
6
a
: a means of recourse : expedient
b
: a group of players ranked according to skill or proficiency
7
: succession sense 3a
a string of successes
8
: one of the inclined sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers
9
b
: the action of lagging for break in billiards
10
11
strings plural
a
: contingent conditions or obligations
12
: a hypothetical one-dimensional object that is infinitely thin but has a length of 10−33 centimeters, that vibrates as it moves through space, and whose mode of vibration manifests itself as a subatomic particle
stringless adjective

string

2 of 3

verb

strung ˈstrəŋ How to pronounce string (audio) ; stringing ˈstriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce string (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to equip with strings
b
: to tune the strings of
2
: to make tense : key up
3
a
: to thread on or as if on a string
b
: to thread with objects
c
: to tie, hang, or fasten with string
d
: to put together (words, ideas, etc.) like objects threaded on a string
strung her thoughts together
4
: to hang by the neck
used with up
5
: to remove the strings of
string beans
6
a
: to extend or stretch like a string
string wires from tree to tree
b
: to set out in a line or series
often used with out

intransitive verb

1
: to move, progress, or lie in a string
2
: to form into strings
3

string

3 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to stringed musical instruments
the string section
Phrases
on the string
: subject to one's influences

Examples of string in a Sentence

Noun She tied a string around the boxes. He tied the packages together with string. Verb We strung popcorn garlands for the Christmas tree. They strung wires from tree to tree. Scouts strung lanterns along the trail. She strung the key around her neck.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The in memoriam sequence was, as is most often the case, marred by the extraneous performance — string players, interpretive dancers, the white-jacketed Oscars orchestra — that got in its way. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Indonesia’s airlines were banned from flying in the United States and the European Union for years after a string of crashes by Indonesian carriers in 2007. Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Lowing strings and luminous horns were punctuated by brisk xylophones. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 It’s been exactly one year since that fateful day marked the start of a string of subsequent bank failures. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 This year, Gloria faced voters as the city was still reeling from the flooding, but that was just the latest in a string of problems for City Hall. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Similarly concerning for Trump, sizable numbers of GOP voters in a string of states signaled their hesitancy to vote for him in the general election. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Plenty of other fans on social media were distraught over Hurts' decision to ditch his goatee, commenting everything from downright outrage to simply strings of crying emojis. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Drawn from field recordings, and performed by a seven-member ensemble of winds, strings, and percussion, Joachim performs the work in English and Haitian kreyòl. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
Building that kind of support among the branches all but assures that the Academy will hoist Nolan to the podium for the first time for stringing it all together in one movie. Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 Needing to string some wins together, the Wild instead suffered losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues in succession. Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2024 At its core, the Cat Dancer toy is just a piece of wire with a few paper tubes strung on the end. Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Is stringing beads with your mom at the kitchen table your first piece? Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 Police began stringing the two incidents together shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday when a Fort Lauderdale officer assigned to Broward Health Medical Center was told of a 16-year-old boy who had been shot being treated there, said Detective Ali Adamson, a department spokeswoman. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Inside the courthouse, employees were stringing Christmas lights. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024 If a cable could be strung across the Cabot Strait, Field reasoned, couldn’t a longer one be laid across the entire North Atlantic? Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 But the carport covers Capote has strung across the top of the metal frame have not been in compliance with city code. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There are so many different types of bikinis on the market but some of the most popular top styles are triangle, tankini, bandeau, halter, string, and plunge. Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2023 In later years, Lindley did less studio work and took to doing solo shows under his own name, sometimes focusing on his signature guitar playing but eventually drifting more toward less conventional instruments like the oud, a 12-string Persian cousin to the lute. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2023 In their attempt to mimic the Beatles, the band employed new instrumentation and sounds, including the Mellotron, theremin, African rhythms, guitar loops, radio static and string arrangements from future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. William Goodman, Billboard, 8 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'string.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English streng; akin to Old High German strang rope, Latin stringere to bind tight — more at strain

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of string was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near string

Cite this Entry

“String.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/string. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

string

1 of 3 noun
1
: a cord usually used to fasten or tie
2
: a thin tough plant structure (as the fiber connecting the halves of a bean pod)
3
a
: the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument that is plucked, bowed, or struck to produce a sound
b
plural : the stringed instruments of an orchestra
4
: the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow
5
a
: a group of objects threaded on a string
a string of pearls
b
: a series of things arranged in or as if in a line
a string of automobiles
c
: a series of like items (as units of information, marks, or words)
d
: the animals and especially horses belonging to or used by one individual
6
: any of several squads of players on a team that are grouped together according to skill
the second string of a football team
7
: a series in time : succession, sequence
8
plural : requirements or obligations connected with something
an agreement with no strings attached

string

2 of 3 verb
strung ˈstrəŋ How to pronounce string (audio) ; stringing ˈstriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce string (audio)
1
: to equip (as a tennis racket) with strings
2
a
: to thread on or as if on a string
string beads
b
: to tie, hang, or fasten with string
3
: to hang by the neck
strung up from a high tree
4
: to remove the strings of
string beans
5
a
: to extend or stretch like a string
string wires from tree to tree
b
: to set out in a line or series

string

3 of 3 adjective
: of or relating to stringed musical instruments
the string section of an orchestra

More from Merriam-Webster on string

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!