# straddle

/ˈstɹædəɫ/ (US) · /stɹˈædəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/straddle
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to sit or stand with your legs wide apart. It can also mean to be in a position that covers two different things at once, like two different ideas or two different markets.

For teachers: to sit or stand with the legs wide apart; to be in a position that spans two distinct entities or concepts. Often used in financial contexts to describe a position that benefits from price movements in both directions.

## Examples

- The horseman straddled his horse and looked at the valley.
- The company decided to straddle both the luxury and the budget markets to maximize its reach.
- By straddling the fence between traditional manufacturing and digital innovation, the firm managed to survive the economic downturn while its competitors struggled to adapt.

---

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.