Straddle Meaning
/ˈstɹædəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
verbTo be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc.
Sentence Examples
Mr. Straddle called me aside.
The child tried to straddle the wooden fence in the yard.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cowboy had to ____ the fence to fix the broken wire at the very top.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new building was designed to ____ the small stream that ran through the center of the garden.
Word Origin & History
As a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. The noun is first attested in the 1610s.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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"
— 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:
"As they approached the entrance of the port, the giant straddled clear across it, with a foot firmly planted on each headland,"
— 1853, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Minotaur:
"The mountain-ringed Yukon Flats basin straddles the Arctic Circle and is bisected by the Yukon River."
— 1978, Jimmy Carter, Proclamation 4627:
"Those in our movement who are Black and must straddle two movements, fighting the racism of the gay community along with the heterosexism in white institutions and in communities of color."
— 1985 February 9, “Black History Month”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 29, page 4:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cowboy had to ____ the fence to fix the broken wire at the very top.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new building was designed to ____ the small stream that ran through the center of the garden.