Meaning & use

gird

verb·Advanced

To prepare oneself mentally for something difficult, or literally to encircle with a belt or band.

See it in a sentence

The team girded themselves for a tough match against the reigning champions.

Ancient soldiers girded their swords tightly before marching off into battle.

A note on using this word

The phrase 'gird oneself' or 'gird up' is now mostly literary or formal, common in phrases like 'gird your loins.'

Words with a similar meaning

bracefortify

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “gird”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.