straddled; straddling
ˈstrad-liŋ 
ˈstra-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart
especially
: to sit astride
2
: to spread out irregularly : sprawl
3
: to favor or seem to favor two apparently opposite sides
4
: to execute a commodities market spread
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
Examples of straddle in a Sentence
Verb
Turkey straddles Asia and Europe.
Recent Examples on the Web
Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024
House District 19: This district straddles Boulder and Weld counties.
—John Frank, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 19 June 2024
These rules include straddles, the constructive sale rule, and shorting against the box.
—Robert Green, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for straddle 
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
The polo belt occupies a unique niche in the realm of menswear—it’s worn by both princes and athletes, at once aesthetic and utilitarian, and somehow straddles the worlds of casual and elevated dress.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024
House District 19: This district straddles Boulder and Weld counties.
—John Frank, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
If unable to stop, do not straddle animals: If possible, always try to drive around an animal rather than straddle, which is when a driver positions its vehicle so the critter is in the middle of the vehicle to avoid crushing with tires.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 19 June 2024
These rules include straddles, the constructive sale rule, and shorting against the box.
—Robert Green, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for straddle
Dictionary Entries Near straddle
Cite this Entry
“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straddle. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
straddle
1 of 2 verb
strad·dle
ˈstrad-ᵊl
straddled; straddling
ˈstrad-liŋ
-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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share