straddle

1 of 2

verb

strad·​dle ˈstra-dᵊl 

straddled; straddling ˈstrad-liŋ 

ˈstra-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart

especially : to sit astride

2

: to spread out irregularly : sprawl

3

: to favor or seem to favor two apparently opposite sides

4

: to execute a commodities market spread

transitive verb

1

: to stand, sit, or be astride of

straddle a horse

campsites straddling the river

2

: to be noncommittal in regard to

straddle an issue

3

: to belong in part to (each of several categories)

a movie straddling genres

straddler

ˈstrad-lər 

ˈstra-dᵊl-ər

noun

straddle

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or position of one who straddles

2

: a noncommittal or equivocal position

3

: spread sense 5

Phrases

straddle the fence

: to be in a position of neutrality or indecision

Examples of straddle in a Sentence

Verb

Turkey straddles Asia and Europe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That had plenty of room for packages but required her to straddle the front seat, stretching her left hand out to hold the steering wheel while delivering mail from the passenger window with her right. —Casey Cep, New Yorker, 28 June 2025

And in that lies another interesting tension: the idea of self-sustaining pop celebrity, straddling these two worlds of DIY inventiveness and image-heavy exposure. —Reanna Cruz, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025

Noun

Schedule preventive service during slow periods so cranes, trucks and straddle carriers don’t break down under pressure. —Nicolas Westgate, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

One partner reclines, while the other straddles, facing forward or in a reverse-cowgirl style. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

irregular from stride

First Known Use

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing straddle

• straddle the fence

Rhymes for straddle

• paddle
• saddle

Kids Definition

straddle

1 of 2 verb

strad·​dle ˈstrad-ᵊl 

straddled; straddling ˈstrad-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart

2

: to approve or seem to approve two apparently opposite sides

straddle a question

straddler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

straddle

2 of 2 noun

: the act or position of one that straddles

Legal Definition

straddle

noun

strad·​dle

ˈstrad-ᵊl

: the purchase of an equal number of put options and call options on the same underlying securities with the same price and maturity date