button

1 of 2

verb

buttoned; buttoning ˈbət-niŋ 

ˈbə-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to furnish or decorate with buttons

2

a

: to pass (a button) through a buttonhole or loop

b

: to close or fasten with buttons

—often used with up

It's cold outside, so button up your coat.

3

a

: to close (the lips) to prevent speech

I told you to button your lip.

b

: to close or seal tightly

—usually used with up

have to button up the house for winter

intransitive verb

: to have buttons for fastening

This dress buttons at the back.

buttoner

ˈbət-nər, 

ˈbə-tᵊn-ər 

noun

buttoner

2 of 2

noun

but·​ton·​er ˈbət-nər 

ˈbə-tᵊn-ər

plural -s

1

: one that buttons

specifically : buttonhook

2

a

: one who sews on buttons

b

: a worker who buttons articles (such as shoes or shirts) prior to packaging

Examples of button in a Sentence

Verb

He rarely buttons the top button on his shirt.

Will you button the baby's jacket for her?

The skirt buttons on the side.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

It can be worn open as a lightweight layer, buttoned up for dressier occasions, or tied around your shoulders for a dose of preppy energy. —Annie Blackman, InStyle, 23 May 2026

The beauty of this top is it can be worn buttoned up and tucked into jeans for a more tailored look, but it can also be worn loose over a plain tank for a model-off-duty finish. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026

The guys mostly sport collared shirts buttoned up tight; Drew might be wearing a cardigan. —Dan Kois, Pitchfork, 17 May 2026

For those who aren’t quite ready to position their pectorals in this way, Mason assures his pieces can be worn buttoned up, too. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing button

• (as) cute as a button
• bachelor's button
• back button
• belly button
• button bar
• button-down
• button it
• button man
• button mushroom
• button nose
• button one's lip/lips
• button quail
• button snakeroot
• campaign button
• hot button
• mescal button
• on the button
• panic button
• peyote button
• push-button
• push/hit/press the panic button
• snooze button

Rhymes for button

• clutton
• glutton
• mutton
• unbutton

Kids Definition

button

1 of 2 noun

but·​ton ˈbət-ᵊn 

1

a

: a small knob or disk used for holding parts of a garment together or as an ornament

b

: a usually round badge bearing a design or slogan

a campaign button

2

: something (as a small or young mushroom) that resembles a button

3

: push button

also : a computer image that resembles a push button in appearance and function

button

2 of 2 verb

buttoned; buttoning ˈbət-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to close or fasten with buttons

buttoner

-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun

Medical Definition

button

noun

but·​ton ˈbət-ᵊn 

: something that resembles a small knob or disk: such as

a

: cotyledon sense 1

b

: the terminal segment of a rattlesnake's rattle