1
: to prepare (oneself) for action
2
a
: to encircle or bind with a flexible band (such as a belt)
b
: to make (something, such as clothing or a sword ) fast or secure (as with a cord or belt)
gird a sword by a belt
c
: surround
: to prepare for action
Both sides are girding for battle.
: a sarcastic remark
Synonyms
Examples of gird in a Sentence
Verb (1)
for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons
she girded her waist with a delicate sash
the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield
a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes
Noun
in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 20 June 2024
Instead, the world’s democratic powers appear to be girding themselves for a long twilight struggle with authoritarian regimes.
—Michael Doyle, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
Congress and legislatures in affected states should provide funds for as long as needed to sustain farm workers’ efforts to gird the herd against this virus.
—Raj Panjabi, TIME, 11 June 2024
Trump’s historic trial has led New York authorities to gird for the risk of violence.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gird 
Verb
No matter who prevails in the November election, officials in Washington and Beijing are girding for more tense periods.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 20 June 2024
Instead, the world’s democratic powers appear to be girding themselves for a long twilight struggle with authoritarian regimes.
—Michael Doyle, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
Congress and legislatures in affected states should provide funds for as long as needed to sustain farm workers’ efforts to gird the herd against this virus.
—Raj Panjabi, TIME, 11 June 2024
Trump’s historic trial has led New York authorities to gird for the risk of violence.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gird
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gird.' 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 gird
Cite this Entry
“Gird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gird. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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