bracing

[brey-sing]

adjective

1. strengthening; invigorating.

   This mountain air is bracing.

2. of, relating to, or serving as a brace.

noun

1. a brace.

2. braces collectively.

   The bracing on this scaffold is weak.

3. material, as timber, used for braces.

bracing

/ ˈbreɪsɪŋ /

adjective

1. refreshing; stimulating; invigorating

   the air here is bracing

noun

1. a system of braces used to strengthen or support

   the bracing supporting the building is perfectly adequate

Other Word Forms

• bracingly adverb
• bracingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bracing¹

First recorded in 1475–85; brace + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; brace + -ing ² for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

As she was building her presence onscreen as Bailey, Wilson was still a cautious working actor bracing for the worst.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The director has considered how good people are to respond to brutal injustice, and created in the wake of his own nightmare a movie of bracing anger and empathy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Signs that the market might be bracing for some upcoming turbulence first started to emerge in late September.

Read more on MarketWatch

The stock market’s sharp selloff Friday indicates that investors are bracing for real pain ahead.

Read more on Barron's

He said energy workers and authorities were bracing for further attacks.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• invigorating 
• refreshing