strutted; strutting
Synonyms of strut

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
see also:

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Beyond their cool-girl air, the shoes offer plenty of support and cushioning thanks to their plush insoles that keep your arches comfortable for hours of strutting. Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026 The World Cup doubles as a beauty pageant for each country’s fans, who strut around, sing their anthems, and try their best to look hot, happy, and, above all, passionate. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Noun
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane and told Fox News Digital the pilot made a hard landing in the East River at about noon local time, causing a wing strut to snap. Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 The rough landing caused a wing strut to snap, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strut. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

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