strut

verb \ ˈstrət \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: strut in a Sentence

Definition of strut

strutted; strutting

intransitive verb

1 : to become turgid : swell

2 a : to walk with a proud gait

b : to walk with a pompous and affected air

transitive verb

: to parade (something, such as clothes) with a show of pride

—

strutter

noun

—

struttingly

play \ˈstrə-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

— strut one's stuff

: to display one's best work : show off

Recent Examples of strut from the Web

An Act One murder mystery lets the audience sees violin-loving Holmes strut his stuff and is solved with his usual, nearly omniscient flair.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Entertaining Sherlock Holmes musical doesn't always hit the right emotional notes," 9 June 2018
Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% 0:00 / 1:19 Pigeons strut their stuff at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Advertisement The stock Show’s pigeon breeders explain why the birds are so amazing.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "L.A. euthanized a homeless man’s 18 pet pigeons. He can sue the city, court rules," 1 May 2018
Danforth Inn Fresh on the heels of a renovation, the Danforth Inn is ready to strut its stuff.

— sarah firshein, Town & Country, "The Ultimate Travel Guide to Portland, Maine," 13 Apr. 2017
The shoot took place at the department store's iconic flagship location at 59th street and Third Avenue, where onlookers watched as SJP strutted her stuff (LBB in hand), posed on a taxi, and bravely struck a pose on the Bloomingdale's marquee.

— lauren valenti, Marie Claire, "Does This Mean 'Sex and the City 3' Is Happening?," 28 Sep. 2015
In the final scene, characters Danny and Sandy strut around the school carnival singing and dancing.

— kelly o'sullivan, Country Living, "John Travolta Recreates His Iconic 'Grease' Dance 40 Years Later and It's Electrifying," 14 June 2018
With the time running off the clock at the end of the Warriors’ Game 4 blowout win over the Cavaliers at The Q, Young strutted down the floor.

— alysha tsuji, For The Win, "'Swag champ' Nick Young is so happy to win his first title with the Warriors," 9 June 2018
Musical guest Nicki Minaj strutted through her glitzy numbers.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'SNL': Tina Fey plays Palin, celebrity traffic cop," 20 May 2018
Glitz and glamour filled the event space as attendees strutted along the red carpet and glittering balloons and streamers.

— nikki delamotte, cleveland.com, "Glenville High School and Ginn Academy students celebrate 2018 prom at St. Noel's Banquet Center (photos)," 12 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of strut

Middle English strouten, from Old English strūtian to stand out stiffly, struggle; akin to Middle High German strozzen to be swollen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

strut

noun

Definition of strut

1 : a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length

2 : a pompous step or walk

3 : arrogant behavior : swagger

See strut defined for English-language learners

Examples of strut in a Sentence

the strut of a supermodel

Recent Examples of strut from the Web

Teams played only nine games in 1982 because of a 57-day strike, a schedule that undermined the statistical struts that buttress all MVP debates.

— michael farber, SI.com, "Mark Moseley, Last of the Straight-On Kickers," 2 July 2018
Built on the same platform as the Land Rover Evoque, the E-Pace suspension has struts up front and a multilink at the rear.

— eric bangeman, Ars Technica, "A sports car in SUV clothing: The Jaguar E-Pace reviewed," 28 June 2018
In a conference room, Yawczak fondly imitated Ruya's confident strut, much to the delight of her co-workers.

— michael katz, idahostatesman, "A slain refugee was set to start preschool Monday. Despite tragedy, staffers carry hope.," 6 July 2018
Rarely does such a surefire banger -- with strut-worthy lines about feeling like a supermodel on the dancefloor -- pack such emotional nuance too.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "The 50 Best Songs of 2018 (So Far): Critics' Picks," 6 June 2018
Inverted front struts come standard for greater durability on the track.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "2018 Subaru WRX STi Type RA boggles the mind as most expensive Subaru," 30 May 2018
Cole punctuated his exit with a cocky spit on his strut toward the dugout.

— hunter atkins, Houston Chronicle, "Evan Gattis, Alex Bregman power Astros over Rangers," 7 June 2018
Tohaku used only ink and negative space to summon a landscape in which a female broods while her mate struts toward her, beak open.

— lee lawrence, WSJ, "‘A Giant Leap: The Transformation of Hasegawa Tohaku’ Review," 25 Apr. 2018
The big bird blew up into a full fan and strut and came dancing into the opening toward the closest decoy.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "For hunters, South Texas colors a feast for the senses," 3 May 2018

First Known Use of strut

1587

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

strut

verb

Definition of strut

strutted; strutting

transitive verb

: to provide, stiffen, support, or hold apart with or as if with a strut

Recent Examples of strut from the Web

The various posts show the singer strutting through the aisle of a plane, hitting a fierce pose on the sidewalk, and perfectly perched atop a retro red metal chair.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Beyoncé Wears Summer Topknot Hairstyle on Instagram," 2 July 2018
The event features thousands of performers in colorful costumes adorned with sequins and feathers strutting through Philadelphia's streets.

— Bloomberg.com, "Extreme Cold to Test New Year’s Revelers," 30 Dec. 2017
At a recent casting for the Nuestra Belleza Venezuela contest, a pack of teens and 20-something women donned towering heels and coated their lips in glossy pink hues before strutting in front of judges.

— Washington Post, "In embattled Venezuela, beauty offers ladder out of poverty," 6 July 2018
The women strut out in their semi-finest while an announcer reads a couple of wacky facts.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "The Proposal Is A Disturbing Anti-Women Episode Of Next," 19 June 2018
In the final scene, characters Danny and Sandy strut around the school carnival singing and dancing.

— kelly o'sullivan, Country Living, "John Travolta Recreates His Iconic 'Grease' Dance 40 Years Later and It's Electrifying," 14 June 2018
Whilst Sunday's game is Iniesta's final appearance in a Barcelona shirt, the Blaugrana faithful will be hoping to see another high profile name strutting around in the new kit next season, with Antoine Griezmann seemingly atop of the wish list.

— SI.com, "FC Barcelona Unveils New Home Kit Ahead of 2018/19 Season," 19 May 2018
There’s also a bird that struts around, lording it over the place like a, well, peacock.

— molly glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "The Houston Arboretum’s newest resident: An exotic peacock," 15 June 2018
An Act One murder mystery lets the audience sees violin-loving Holmes strut his stuff and is solved with his usual, nearly omniscient flair.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Entertaining Sherlock Holmes musical doesn't always hit the right emotional notes," 9 June 2018