1
a
: a narrow usually flat strip or thong of a flexible material and especially leather used for securing, holding together, or wrapping
b
: something made of a strap forming a loop
a boot strap
c
: a strip of leather used for flogging
d
: strop
2
: a band, plate, or loop of metal for binding objects together or for clamping an object in position
3
: a shoe fastened with a usually buckled strap
4
Ireland
: trollop
strapped; strapping
1
2
: to beat or punish with a strap
3
: strop
4
: to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity
is often strapped for cash
Examples of strap in a Sentence
Verb
We strapped our snowshoes on.
She climbed the mountain with a 40-pound pack strapped to her back.
She made sure that both children were strapped in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The recycled ripstop nylon is surprisingly durable, and the padded straps are comfortable on my shoulders for long periods of time.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
The strap is flexible but still keeps your foot in place, and the bottom offers great traction.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
This trend can be worn over the shoulder or in hand depending on the strap length.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Even heritage British shoemakers, renowned for robust brogues and monk straps, delved into sleek leather and suede iterations.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
There is also a storage area under the lid, which has two straps to hold objects in place.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Mar. 2024
Handmade in Spain, the Betis is made from soft pastel leather and features a round toe, bow detail, and elastic strap.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Leather straps would have been threaded through this hole to attach the skate to a shoe or sled.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Eva Dou, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Sultry TikTok-ers demonstrate how to strap oneself into a corset-like garment that pins back the shoulders, while buff YouTube influencers explain how to appear inches taller by unfurling a tech-bent spine.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Forty years ago, four men put on uniforms, came up with a catchy logo — a startled specter in a red circle with a slash going through it, no big whoop — strapped on some proton packs and saved New York City from an evil deity holed up in a penthouse.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
In some cases, the IIHS says drivers can activate some of the systems without ever strapping on a seat belt.
—Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first two missions, DJ’s monitor showed the Ukrainian steppe below as his drone catapulted through the wilderness at upward of 60 miles per hour, strapped with roughly three pounds of high explosives and aimed at destroying Russian vehicles.
—Yurii Shyvala, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Photographs and video from the day of the Jordan match show Son with two fingers on his right hand strapped together with a white bandage.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Pollination — not honey prices — has been the true rocket booster strapped to the back of the modern beekeeping industry.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Rows and rows of people trying to escape the hell of modern flying by strapping into headsets, dancing or gaming or watching MMA on a dead silent plane while the flight crew looks on.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Made of the brand’s classic pebbled leather material, the bag has a jacquard lining and a 22-inch strap drop for a comfortably chic fit.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The recycled ripstop nylon is surprisingly durable, and the padded straps are comfortable on my shoulders for long periods of time.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
The strap is flexible but still keeps your foot in place, and the bottom offers great traction.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
This trend can be worn over the shoulder or in hand depending on the strap length.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Even heritage British shoemakers, renowned for robust brogues and monk straps, delved into sleek leather and suede iterations.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
There is also a storage area under the lid, which has two straps to hold objects in place.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Mar. 2024
Handmade in Spain, the Betis is made from soft pastel leather and features a round toe, bow detail, and elastic strap.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Leather straps would have been threaded through this hole to attach the skate to a shoe or sled.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The reason for the resurgence is a grim one: Small drones have proven a potent battle tool in the Ukraine war, with soldiers strapping bombs on them and sending them on one-way missions.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Sultry TikTok-ers demonstrate how to strap oneself into a corset-like garment that pins back the shoulders, while buff YouTube influencers explain how to appear inches taller by unfurling a tech-bent spine.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Forty years ago, four men put on uniforms, came up with a catchy logo — a startled specter in a red circle with a slash going through it, no big whoop — strapped on some proton packs and saved New York City from an evil deity holed up in a penthouse.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
In some cases, the IIHS says drivers can activate some of the systems without ever strapping on a seat belt.
—Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024
On the first two missions, DJ’s monitor showed the Ukrainian steppe below as his drone catapulted through the wilderness at upward of 60 miles per hour, strapped with roughly three pounds of high explosives and aimed at destroying Russian vehicles.
—Yurii Shyvala, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Photographs and video from the day of the Jordan match show Son with two fingers on his right hand strapped together with a white bandage.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Pollination — not honey prices — has been the true rocket booster strapped to the back of the modern beekeeping industry.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Rows and rows of people trying to escape the hell of modern flying by strapping into headsets, dancing or gaming or watching MMA on a dead silent plane while the flight crew looks on.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strap.' 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 strap
Cite this Entry
“Strap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strap. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
strap
1 of 2 noun1
: a band, plate, or loop of metal for tying objects together or for clamping an object in position
2
a
: a narrow usually flat strip of a flexible material and especially leather used for fastening, holding together, or wrapping
b
: something made of a strap forming a loop
boot strap
c
: a strip of leather used for whipping
d
strap
2 of 2 verb
strapped; strapping
1
: to fasten with or attach by a strap
2
: to beat or punish with a strap
3
4
: to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity
I'm strapped for cash
Medical Definition
strap
1 of 2 noun
: a flexible band or strip
strap
2 of 2 transitive verb
strapped; strapping
1
: to secure with or attach by means of a strap
2
: to support (as a sprained joint) with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share