Word
strut
US/ˈstɹət/
UK/stɹˈʌt/
Definition
v. to walk in a proud or confident way. You often move your body with a lot of energy to show people how important you are.
v. to walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait. Often implies a performative display of confidence or status.
Examples
“The peacock began to strut around the garden to show its feathers.”
“After winning the debate, he couldn't help but strut across the stage while the audience cheered.”
“The lead singer would often strut across the platform with a theatrical arrogance that both captivated the fans and irritated the critics.”
Examples
simple
“The peacock began to strut around the garden to show its feathers.”
contextual
“After winning the debate, he couldn't help but strut across the stage while the audience cheered.”
complex
“The lead singer would often strut across the platform with a theatrical arrogance that both captivated the fans and irritated the critics.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The nearly two-hour show is a whirlwind of hair-flipping, booty-shaking and synchronised strutting.” “Hall was also keen to strut her stuff, saying she wanted to stay long enough to "wear all my fabulous outfits".” Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English strouten, struten (“to bulge, swell; to protrude, stick out; to bluster, threaten; to object forcefully; to create a disturbance; to fight; to display one's clothes in a proud or vain manner”) [and other forms], from Old English strūtian (“to project out; stand out stiffly; to exert oneself, struggle”), from Proto-Germanic strūtōną, strūtijaną (“to be puffed up, swell”), from Proto-Indo-European streudʰ- (“rigid, stiff”), from (s)ter- (“firm; strong; rigid, stiff”). The English word is cognate with Danish strutte (“to bulge, bristle”), Low German strutt (“stiff”), Middle High German striuzen (“to bristle; to ruffle”) (modern German strotzen (“to bristle up”), sträußen (obsolete, except in Alemannic)); and compare Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌿𐍄𐍃𐍆𐌹𐌻𐌻 (þrutsfill, “leprosy”), Old Norse þrútinn (“swollen”). The noun is derived from the verb. Noun sense 2 (“instrument for adjusting the pleats of a ruff”) appears to be due to a misreading of a 16th-century work which used the word stroout (strouted (“caused (something) to bulge, protrude, or swell; strutted”)).
The origin of sense 1 of the noun (“beam or rod providing support”) is unknown; it is probably ultimately from Proto-Germanic strūtōną, strūtijaną (“to be puffed up, swell”): see further at etymology 1. The English word is cognate with Icelandic strútur (“hood jutting out like a horn”), Low German strutt (“rigid, stiff”), Norwegian strut (“nozzle, spout”), Swedish strut (“paper cornet”). The verb is derived from sense 1 of the noun. Sense 2 of the noun (“act of strutting”) is derived from the verb: see above.
Probably an archaic past participle of strut (“to (cause something to) bulge, protrude, or swell”), now replaced by strutted: see etymology 1.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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