What does "straddle" mean?
A posture in which one straddles something.
Straddle
/ˈstɹæd.l̩/ adv, noun, verb
adv, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A posture in which one straddles something.
- Grammar: straddle is listed as adv, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: span, abstain, abut, abut on.
- Useful contrasts: closed position, compress, directional bet.
- Usage evidence: But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour, straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right place
How to use "straddle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "straddle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "straddle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "straddle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "straddle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "straddle" is acting as adv, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "span" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "straddle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A posture in which one straddles something.
- 2 the option to buy or sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date; consists of an equal number of put and call options wordnet
- 3 A pair or salvo of successive artillery shots falling both in front of and behind a target.
"The first salvo fell short; the next was long; the third was a straddle."
- 4 the act of sitting or standing astride wordnet
- 5 An investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with put and call options on the same security at the same strike price, giving a non-directional position sensitive to volatility.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a gymnastic exercise performed with a leg on either side of the parallel bars wordnet
- 7 A voluntary raise made prior to receiving cards by the first player after the blinds.
- 8 a noncommittal or equivocal position wordnet
- 9 A vertical mine-timber supporting a set.
- 10 A part of a harness placed on the back of a beast of burden (such as a horse or donkey) to carry the weight of a load.
Verb
- 1 To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride. transitive
"But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour, straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right place"
- 2 range or extend over; occupy a certain area wordnet
- 3 To be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc. transitive
"The mountain-ringed Yukon Flats basin straddles the Arctic Circle and is bisected by the Yukon River."
- 4 be noncommittal wordnet
- 5 To consider or favor two apparently opposite sides; to be noncommittal. transitive
"Wanting to please both sides, he straddled the issue."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 sit or stand astride of wordnet
- 7 To form a disorderly sprawl; to spread out irregularly. transitive
"This weed straddles the entire garden."
- 8 To fire successive artillery shots in front of and behind of a target, especially in order to determine its range (the term "bracket" is often used instead).
- 9 To place a voluntary raise prior to receiving cards (only by the first player after the blinds).
- 10 To stand with the ends staggered; said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub. intransitive
- 11 To execute a commodities market spread.
Adverb
- 1 Astride. not-comparable
Example
"But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour, straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right place"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "straddle"?
Common synonyms include: span, abstain, abut, abut on, across, amble.
How do you use "straddle" in a sentence?
But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour, straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right place
How do you pronounce "straddle"?
Pronounced /ˈstɹæd.l̩/.
Etymology
As a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. The noun is first attested in the 1610s.