strut

¹

[ struht ]

verb (used without object)

, strut·ted, strut·ting.

1. to walk with a vain, pompous bearing, as with head erect and chest thrown out, as if expecting to impress observers.

   Synonyms: flourish, parade

noun

1. the act of strutting.
2. a strutting walk or gait.

strut

²

[ struht ]

noun

1. any of various structural members, as in trusses, primarily intended to resist longitudinal compression.

verb (used with object)

, strut·ted, strut·ting.

1. to brace or support by means of a strut or struts.

strut

/ strʌt /

verb

1. intr to walk in a pompous manner; swagger
2. tr to support or provide with struts
3. strut one's stuff informal.
   to behave or perform in a proud and confident manner; show off

noun

1. a structural member used mainly in compression, esp as part of a framework
2. an affected, proud, or stiff walk

Derived Forms

• ˈstrutting, adjective
• ˈstrutter, noun
• ˈstruttingly, adverb

Other Words From

• strutter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strut¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English strouten “to protrude stiffly, swell, bluster,” Old English strūtian “to struggle,” derivative of unattested strūt (whence Middle English strut “strife”)

Origin of strut²

First recorded in 1565–75; obscurely akin to strut ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of strut¹

C14 strouten (in the sense: swell, stand out; C16: to walk stiffly), from Old English strūtian to stand stiffly; related to Low German strutt stiff

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. strut one's stuff, to dress, behave, perform, etc., one's best in order to impress others; show off.

Synonym Study

Strut and swagger refer especially to carriage in walking. Strut implies swelling pride or pompousness; to strut is to walk with a stiff, pompous, seemingly affected or self-conscious gait: A turkey struts about the barnyard. Swagger implies a domineering, sometimes jaunty, superiority or challenge, and a self-important manner: to swagger down the street.

Example Sentences

That part of the leg, they say, is where fibular reduction among some dinosaurs tens of millions of years ago helped make it possible for peacocks to strut, penguins to waddle, and turkeys to trot.

From Science Daily

His off-kilter demeanor looks especially dangerous in scenes he shares with Strong or May, whose Empress is stealthier than the strutting warrior she showcased in “The Witcher.”

From Salon

Video of Spot strutting around the property has gone viral on TikTok - where reactions range from calling them cool and cute, to creepy - and become fodder for jokes on American late night television.

From BBC

Dressed in his trademark all black, he strutted to the ring sporting the same stern look he has had all week.

From BBC

Usually, Veterans Day is an occasion for the Pentagon and the U.S. military to strut their stuff.

From Salon

Related Words

• prance
• sashay
• stalk
• stride
• swagger