stranded; stranding; strands
1
: to run, drive, or cause to drift onto a strand : run aground
2
: to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place especially without funds or means to depart
3
: to leave (a base runner) on base at the end of an inning in baseball
: to become stranded
1
a
: fibers or filaments twisted, plaited, or laid parallel to form a unit for further twisting or plaiting into yarn, thread, rope, or cordage
b
: one of the wires twisted together or laid parallel to form a wire rope or cable
c
: something (such as a molecular chain) resembling a strand
a strand of DNA
2
a
: an element (such as a yarn or thread) of a woven or plaited material
b
: a threadlike piece of natural or synthetic material
a strand of hair
3
: an elongated or twisted and plaited body resembling a rope
a strand of pearls
4
: one of the elements interwoven in a complex whole
one strand of the novel's plot
stranded; stranding; strands
1
: to break a strand of (a rope) accidentally
2
a
: to form (something, such as a rope) from strands
b
: to play out, twist, or arrange in a strand
Examples of strand in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the wishful dream of living an indolent, idyllic existence on some far-off strand
Verb (1)
the ghostly remains of ships that had been stranded by the reef
he just drove off, stranding her in some dinky town with just a few bucks and the clothes she was wearing
Recent Examples on the Web
Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 June 2025
Over time, my strands became brittle—downright dehydrated.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Alireza Iranmehr, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025
The refugee resettlement program’s suspension in January stranded more than 1,600 Afghans who are awaiting approval to resettle in the U.S.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strand
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Noun
According to Toth, thick hair can be defined as a matter of overall density or of individual strand coarseness.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 June 2025
Over time, my strands became brittle—downright dehydrated.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Verb
Some vehicles were stranded on the sides of the road, having run out of fuel.
—Alireza Iranmehr, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025
The refugee resettlement program’s suspension in January stranded more than 1,600 Afghans who are awaiting approval to resettle in the U.S.
—Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for strand
Cite this Entry
“Strand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strand. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
strand
2 of 3 verb1
: to run aground : beach
boats stranded by the storm
2
: to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place especially without a way of departing
stranded in a strange city
strand
3 of 3 noun1
: one of the fibers, threads, strings, or wires twisted or braided to make a cord, rope, or cable
2
: something resembling a strand
a strand of pearls
a strand of DNA
3
: one of the elements of a complicated whole
the strands of a legal argument
Etymology
Noun
Old English strand "shore"
Noun
Middle English strond "strand, fiber"
Medical Definition
strand
noun
: something (as a molecular chain) resembling a thread
a strand of DNA
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