# buckle

/ˈbəkəɫ/ (US) · /bˈʌkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buckle
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to fasten a belt

verb · CEFR B1

to fasten a belt or strap using a metal clasp.

For teachers: to secure or fasten a strap or belt by means of a buckle. Transitive in this sense.

- Please buckle your seatbelt before the plane takes off.
- The driver reminded all passengers to buckle their safety harnesses securely before the off-road portion of the tour began.

### 2. to bend or collapse

verb · CEFR B2

to bend or break because of too much weight or pressure.

For teachers: to undergo structural failure by bending or warping under longitudinal compression.

- The metal shelves began to buckle under the weight of the heavy books.
- Engineers discovered that the support beams had started to buckle due to the unexpected thermal expansion of the roof structure.

### 3. to give in to pressure

verb · CEFR B2

to stop resisting and give up when you are under a lot of stress.

For teachers: to yield or surrender under psychological or social pressure.

- He refused to buckle under the pressure of the difficult interview.
- Despite the intense scrutiny from the press, the witness did not buckle and maintained her original testimony throughout the trial.

### 4. a fastener

noun · CEFR B1

a metal piece used to join the two ends of a belt or strap.

For teachers: a mechanical device used for fastening two loose ends, typically consisting of a frame and a hinged tongue.

- The silver buckle on his belt caught the light as he walked.
- The archaeologist identified the bronze buckle as a late Roman artifact, noting the intricate geometric patterns engraved on its surface.

### 5. a bend or warp

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a place where something has bent or twisted out of shape.

For teachers: a physical distortion, such as a kink or bulge, in a normally straight or flat object.

- There was a slight buckle in the floorboards where the water had leaked.
- The technician pointed out a significant buckle in the railway track caused by the record-breaking summer heatwave.

## Examples

- Buckle your seatbelt before the car starts.
- She buckled her heavy backpack and walked out the door.
- The old bridge began to buckle under the weight of the heavy truck, causing traffic to halt for hours.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.