buttress

American  

[buh-tris] / ˈbʌ trɪs /

noun

buttresses plural

1. any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.

2. any prop or support.

3. a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.

4. a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.

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verb (used with object)

buttresses, present (3rd person singular) buttressed, past participle, past buttressing present participle

1. to support by a buttress; prop up.

2. to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   reinforce, brace, inspirit, support, hearten, encourage

buttress British  

/ ˈbʌtrɪs /

noun

1. Also called: pier.  a construction, usually of brick or stone, built to support a wall See also flying buttress

2. any support or prop

3. something shaped like a buttress, such as a projection from a mountainside

4. either of the two pointed rear parts of a horse's hoof

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verb

1. to support (a wall) with a buttress

2. to support or sustain

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• buttressless
  adjective
• buttresslike
  adjective
• nonbuttressed
  adjective
• unbuttressed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• buttresses
  plural

Participles

• buttressing
  present
• buttressed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• buttress
  simple
• buttresses
  simple
• have buttressed
  perfect
• has buttressed
  perfect
• are buttressing
  progressive
• am buttressing
  progressive
• is buttressing
  progressive
• have been buttressing
  perfect progressive
• has been buttressing
  perfect progressive

Past

• buttressed
  simple
• had buttressed
  perfect
• was buttressing
  progressive
• were buttressing
  progressive
• had been buttressing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will buttress
  simple
• will have buttressed
  perfect
• will be buttressing
  progressive
• will have been buttressing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of buttress

1350–1400; Middle English butres ≪ Old French ( arc ) boterez thrusting (arch) nominative singular of boteret (accusative), equivalent to boter- abutment (perhaps < Germanic; see butt ³) + -et -et

Explanation

You can buttress an argument with solid facts or your financial portfolio with safe investments. You may find that giving compliments to everyone you meet buttresses your popularity. To buttress is to sustain or reinforce. A buttress is a structure that adds stability to a wall or building, and this innovation played a significant role in the evolution of architecture. Think of a medieval cathedral. It's an incredibly tall, open building filled with light from vast windows. Without buttresses supporting the walls and carrying the weight of the ceiling away from the building and down to the ground, this cathedral would be impossible. Picture this when you use buttress figuratively as a verb meaning to strengthen and support.

Example Sentences

Outside, he posed for selfies and held a 6-foot-long spurtle carved with a chain saw by local artist Alice Buttress and painted gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 19, 2025

A rescue team was brought part of the way up the mountain by helicopter the next morning and climbed the East Buttress to perform the rescue.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2024

Icicle Buttress is a popular climbing area along Icicle Road southwest of Leavenworth.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2024

"Without question, it's a tough time for people, and this campaign is about doing what we can to help those people in really difficult circumstances," Mr Buttress told the BBC.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2022

In the chapel to your left a monument with recumbent heffigies of Bishop Buttress and Dean Gurgoyle, represented laying side by side with clasped 'ands, in token of the lifelong affection between them.

From Puppets at Large Scenes and Subjects from Mr Punch's Show by Anstey, F.

Related Words

• reinforce
• strengthen
• uphold