straddled; straddling ˈstrad-liŋ How to pronounce straddle (audio)
ˈstra-dᵊl-iŋ
Synonyms of straddlenext

intransitive verb

1
: to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart
especially : to sit astride
2
: to spread out irregularly : sprawl
branches straddled in every direction
3
: to favor or seem to favor two apparently opposite sides
4
: to execute a commodities market spread

transitive verb

1
: to stand, sit, or be astride of
straddle a horse
campsites straddling the river
2
: to be noncommittal in regard to
straddle an issue
3
: to belong in part to (each of several categories)
a movie straddling genres
straddler noun
see also:

straddle

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: the act or position of one who straddles
2
: a noncommittal or equivocal position
3
plural -s
: one that straddles: such as
a
British : a tool that straddles a railroad rail to bear upon the projecting ends of a tie plate and is used in driving tie plates into the track
b
: a weeding hoe that straddles a row

Examples of straddle in a Sentence

Verb Turkey straddles Asia and Europe.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Though the park straddles the border of Maryland and Virginia, camping at Assateague is available only on the Maryland side. Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026 Just outside Charlotte, the park straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border, with the state line marked through the plaza. Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Noun
Like the invasive lesser celandine, trees of heaven hurt ecosystems that straddle stream beds and river ways. Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025 Try a straddle wall stretch based on comfort and flexibility. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for straddle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

irregular from stride

First Known Use

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of straddle was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straddle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

straddle

1 of 2 verb
straddled; straddling ˈstrad-liŋ How to pronounce straddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart
2
: to approve or seem to approve two apparently opposite sides
straddle a question

straddle

2 of 2 noun
: the act or position of one that straddles

Legal Definition

straddle

noun
strad·​dle
ˈstrad-ᵊl
: the purchase of an equal number of put options and call options on the same underlying securities with the same price and maturity date

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