brace

1 of 2

verb

ˈbrās 

braced; bracing

transitive verb

1

a

: prepare, steel

brace yourself for the shock

b

: invigorate, freshen

… I took the shower and it braced me up a bit.

—Raymond Chandler

c

: to prepare for use by making taut

brace a drum

2

a

: to furnish or support with a brace (see brace entry 2 sense 1)

heavily braced against the wind

b

: to make stronger : reinforce

nerves … braced by long familiarity with danger

—T. B. Macaulay

3

: to put or plant firmly

braces his foot in the stirrup

4

nautical : to turn (a sail yard) by means of a brace (see brace entry 2 sense 1e)

5

: to waylay especially with demands or questions : confront

when braced, Willie had naturally denied his identity

—Time

6

archaic : to fasten tightly : bind

intransitive verb

1

: to get ready (as for an attack)

brace for the storm

2

: to take heart

—used with up

brace up and do something

—Upton Sinclair

brace

2 of 2

noun

plural braces

1

: something that transmits, directs, resists, or supports weight or pressure: such as

a

: a diagonal piece of structural material that serves to strengthen something (such as a framework)

walls held up with braces

b

medical : an appliance for supporting a body part

has braces on his legs

a neck brace

c

braces plural, dentistry : an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth

had braces as a teenager

d

British braces plural, clothing : suspenders

e

nautical : a rope rove through a block at the end of a ship's yard (see yard entry 4 sense 3) to swing it horizontally

2

a

: one of two marks { } used to connect words or items to be considered together

b

music : one of these marks connecting two or more musical staffs (see staff entry 1 sense 3) carrying parts to be performed simultaneously

c

: bracket sense 3a

numbers written in braces

3

or plural brace : two of a kind : pair

several brace of quail

4

: something (such as a clasp) that connects or fastens

5

: a crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 1a(2))

6

: a position of rigid attention

on review, his uniform and brace were technically correct

—Time

7

: something that arouses energy or strengthens morale

Synonyms

Verb

• stimulate
• stir

Noun

• support
• reinforcement
• shore
• prop
• mount
• mounting
• pillar

Examples of brace in a Sentence

Verb

He braced the gate with a piece of wood.

Steel columns brace the structure.

She braced herself with one hand and reached up with the other.

Noun

We need to add some sort of brace to hold the shelf in place.

He could walk with braces on his legs.

She wears a back brace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group’s apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Chicago is bracing for another violent 4th of July weekend as Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell continues to fight for answers in his brother's 2022 murder in the Windy City. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025

Noun

Emergency repairs began the following month, with work crews replacing dozens of broken or weakened braces that support the wooden structure. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025

Demand for new homes dropped to its lowest level in nearly three years last month, according to the latest data, as builders across the country brace for a significant slowdown in construction in the coming months. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French bracer to embrace, from brace

Noun

Middle English, clasp, pair, from Anglo-French, pair of arms, pair, support, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium arm, from Greek brachiōn, from comparative of brachys short — more at brief

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 6

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing brace

• brace root
• brace yourself
• curly brace
• halo brace

Rhymes for brace

• ace
• base
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• pace
• place
• race

Kids Definition

brace

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrās 

braced; bracing

1

a

: to make firm or tight

b

: to get ready : prepare

braced herself for the test

2

: to furnish or support with a brace

3

: to give life or energy to : freshen

4

: to place firmly

5

: to regain one's courage

brace up, all is not lost

brace

2 of 2 noun

plural braces or brace

1

: two of a kind : pair

several brace of quail

2

: something that connects, fastens, or tightens

3

: a tool with a U-shaped bend that is used to turn wood-boring bits

4

a

: something that transfers, resists, or supports weight or pressure

especially : a slanted timber used as a support in a structure

b

plural : suspender sense 2

c

: a device for supporting a body part (as the shoulders)

d

plural : a usually wire device attached to the teeth to make them straight and pull them into position

5

a

: a mark { or } used to connect words or items or musical staffs that are to be considered together

b

: one of a pair of such marks enclosing words or symbols

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bracen "to fasten, bind," from early French bracer "to embrace," from brace "pair of arms," derived from Latin bracchium "arm" — related to bracelet, brassiere, embrace see Word History at embrace

Noun

Middle English brace "pair, clasp," from early French brace "pair of arms," derived from Latin bracchium "arm" — related to pretzel see Word History at pretzel

Medical Definition

brace

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrās 

1

: an appliance that gives support to movable parts (as a joint or a fractured bone), to weak muscles (as in paralysis), or to strained ligaments (as of the lower back)

2

braces plural : an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth and that is not removable by the patient

brace

2 of 2 transitive verb

braced; bracing

: to furnish or support with a brace