1
: to prepare (oneself) for action
2
a
: to encircle or bind with a flexible band (such as a belt)
b
: to make (something, such as clothing or a sword) fast or secure (as with a cord or belt)
gird a sword by a belt
c
: surround
: to prepare for action
Both sides are girding for battle.
see also:
: a sarcastic remark
Examples of gird in a Sentence
Verb (1)
for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons
she girded her waist with a delicate sash
the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield
a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes
Noun
in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media
Recent Examples on the Web
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
But as artificial general intelligence (AGI) came into view—the idea of a transformatively powerful technology that could surpass human geniuses at most tasks—Hunter-Torricke grew convinced industry executives weren’t girding for the level of disruption the technology would bring.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
That's often on promenades, like this one by Carter Road, that gird the Arabian Sea.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
When Rhoades later took advantage of a 2022 law, Senate Bill 483, that allowed California inmates to petition for resentencing hearings to remove their prior prison term enhancements, Lyons’ family girded themselves one more time.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gird
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Verb
Few observers think the union is girding for another showdown, especially at a time when many of its members are struggling to find work amid media consolidation and belt-tightening.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
But as artificial general intelligence (AGI) came into view—the idea of a transformatively powerful technology that could surpass human geniuses at most tasks—Hunter-Torricke grew convinced industry executives weren’t girding for the level of disruption the technology would bring.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
That's often on promenades, like this one by Carter Road, that gird the Arabian Sea.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
When Rhoades later took advantage of a 2022 law, Senate Bill 483, that allowed California inmates to petition for resentencing hearings to remove their prior prison term enhancements, Lyons’ family girded themselves one more time.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gird
Cite this Entry
“Gird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gird. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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