1
: a fastening for two loose ends that is attached to one and holds the other by a catch
2
: an ornamental device that suggests a buckle
3
archaic
: a crisp curl
buckled; buckling
ˈbə-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to fasten with a buckle
2
: to prepare with vigor
3
: to cause to bend, give way, or crumple
1
: to become fastened with a buckle
2
: to apply oneself with vigor
—usually used with down
buckle down to the job
3
: to bend or move usually under the influence of some external agency
wheat buckling in the wind
4
: collapse
the props buckled under the strain
5
: to give way : yield
he buckled under pressure
Did you know?
Word History of Buckle
The literal meaning of Latin word buccula was “little cheek,” but buccula was also the name for the part of a helmet that protects the cheek. Its medieval French descendant, bouclé, was the word for the boss of a shield, which looks a little like a small cheek on the face of the shield. The use of the word was later extended to belt fasteners. In this sense, the word was borrowed into English.
Synonyms
Examples of buckle in a Sentence
Verb
She buckled the horses into their harness.
The pavement buckled in the heat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The gold-tone buckle belt was a killer addition to this outfit.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
Rodeo star Kenneth Cooper was captured wearing a belt with his 501 Levis in 1928, and according to the brand, Levi Strauss & Co. began celebrating rodeo champions with championship belt buckles in the decades that followed.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
At this year's awards ceremony, HARDY is up for two belt buckles.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Every season has its jewelry trends, and for spring-summer 2024, belt jewelry—basically, pretty jewels with a buckle—seems to be at the top of the list.
—Jessica Scemama, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024
Those adjustable buckles combined with the open toe design leads to tons of comfort and flexibility, which is ideal on those long days with lots of walking.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway sat courtside sporting a necklace with a buckle, a.k.a.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
The strap adjusts from 22.5 to 54 inches and comes with a buckle for easy on and off.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
Philanthropy steps in New York City has spent billions on the asylum seekers while buckling under the pressure of an existing housing and affordability crisis.
—Sara Herschander, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
Uh and his wife and business partner, Mina Park, first opened their experimental strip mall joint in 2018, diners were entranced by the shelves practically buckling under the weight of giant jars of ferments.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
The office was racked by personnel issues and buckling under the weight of identifying and prosecuting Jan. 6 rioters — an investigation that became the largest ever undertaken by the department.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Even if Washington hadn’t buckled to outside pressure, the U.S. ambitions for 2030 would not have been exceptional.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2024
Almost at once, the pier buckled and collapsed, twisting over the ship, with its cargo containers stacked high on the deck.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds – a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media.
—Lea Skene, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
The impact quickly caused much of the bridge to buckle, dropping major portions into the Patapsco River.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
The excavations also revealed a trove of artifacts, including brooches, rings, coins, tableware and a belt buckle decorated with horses.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
The gold-tone buckle belt was a killer addition to this outfit.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
Rodeo star Kenneth Cooper was captured wearing a belt with his 501 Levis in 1928, and according to the brand, Levi Strauss & Co. began celebrating rodeo champions with championship belt buckles in the decades that followed.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
At this year's awards ceremony, HARDY is up for two belt buckles.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Every season has its jewelry trends, and for spring-summer 2024, belt jewelry—basically, pretty jewels with a buckle—seems to be at the top of the list.
—Jessica Scemama, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024
Those adjustable buckles combined with the open toe design leads to tons of comfort and flexibility, which is ideal on those long days with lots of walking.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway sat courtside sporting a necklace with a buckle, a.k.a.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
The strap adjusts from 22.5 to 54 inches and comes with a buckle for easy on and off.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
New York City, charities feeling the crunch New York City has spent billions on the asylum seekers while buckling under the pressure of an existing housing and affordability crisis.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
Philanthropy steps in New York City has spent billions on the asylum seekers while buckling under the pressure of an existing housing and affordability crisis.
—Sara Herschander, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
Uh and his wife and business partner, Mina Park, first opened their experimental strip mall joint in 2018, diners were entranced by the shelves practically buckling under the weight of giant jars of ferments.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
The office was racked by personnel issues and buckling under the weight of identifying and prosecuting Jan. 6 rioters — an investigation that became the largest ever undertaken by the department.
—Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Even if Washington hadn’t buckled to outside pressure, the U.S. ambitions for 2030 would not have been exceptional.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2024
Almost at once, the pier buckled and collapsed, twisting over the ship, with its cargo containers stacked high on the deck.
—Mike Baker, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds – a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media.
—Lea Skene, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024
The impact quickly caused much of the bridge to buckle, dropping major portions into the Patapsco River.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buckle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near buckle
Cite this Entry
“Buckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buckle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buckle
1 of 3 noun
buck·le
ˈbək-əl
: a fastening device which is attached to one end of a belt or strap and through which the other end is passed and held
buckle
3 of 3 noun
: a product of buckling
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