gird

¹ American  

[gurd] / gɜrd /

verb (used with object)

girded, girt, girding

1. to encircle or bind with a belt or band.

2. to surround; enclose; hem in.

3. to prepare (oneself ) for action.

   He girded himself for the trial ahead.

   Synonyms:

   strengthen, fortify, steel, brace

4. to provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.

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gird ² American  

[gurd] / gɜrd /

verb (used without object)

1. to gibe; jeer (usually followed byat ).

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verb (used with object)

1. to gibe or jeer at; taunt.

noun

1. a gibe.

gird ¹ British  

/ ɡɜːd /

verb

1. to jeer (at someone); mock

2. (tr) to strike (a blow at someone)

3. (intr) to move at high speed

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noun

1. 1. a blow or stroke

   2. a taunt; gibe

2. a display of bad temper or anger (esp in the phrases in a gird; throw a gird )

gird ² British  

/ ɡɜːd /

verb

1. to put a belt, girdle, etc, around (the waist or hips)

2. to bind or secure with or as if with a belt

   to gird on one's armour

3. to surround; encircle

4. to prepare (oneself) for action (esp in the phrase gird ( up ) one's loins )

5. to endow with a rank, attribute, etc, esp knighthood

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gird ³ British  

/ ɡɪrd /

noun

1. Also: girr.  a hoop, esp a child's hoop

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Other Word Forms

• girdingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of gird¹

before 950; Middle English girden, Old English gyrdan; cognate with German gürten

Origin of gird²

1175–1225; Middle English gyrd a stroke, blow, hence a cutting remark, derivative of girden to strike, smite < ?

Explanation

"Gird your loins and prepare for battle!" Okay, no one says "gird your loins" anymore (which basically means "tighten your pants"), but gird is still used as a verb to mean "get ready for a dangerous situation." To gird is to prepare for a military attack, but more loosely it refers to readying oneself for any kind of confrontation. When you gird for something, you are preparing for the worst-case scenario. Gird can also mean "fasten something tightly with a belt or a band" (as in "gird your loins"), or it can mean "to surround or encircle." A field that is girded by trees is surrounded and encircled by trees.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gird girded girding girt

For Jones and his salvation army it's a day to gird the loins and fight back.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

Doing so would help investors gird against volatility that might follow.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026

Part of the point of the book is to tell people with Hollywood dreams that they’ll need to gird themselves emotionally and physically for the work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025

As Washington and Wall Street gird themselves for an increasingly likely shutdown, it’s worth considering what might happen in that event.

From New York Times ● Sep. 29, 2023

‘At least we may yet be avenged. Let us gird ourselves and weep no more! Come! We have a long road, and much to do.’

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

But when audiences girded their loins for the sequel—this one as lavishly supported by glossy publishers as its earlier version was disavowed—there was a single character whose zippy quippiness was most anticipated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

Tynecastle rubbed its eyes and then girded its loins.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026

Harris said that while she accepted the election results, she refused to concede the fight for freedom, opportunity and fairness that girded her campaign.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2024

European shares closed higher, led higher by mining stocks as investors girded themselves for the U.S.

From Reuters ● Sep. 11, 2023

Then it was time for recess, and Hazel girded herself.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

While software stocks on the list like Zoom, Okta and the Trade Desk have strong numbers, they are girding for a widely expected battle with AI.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

With daylight-saving time set to begin this Sunday, Americans will once again be girding themselves for the “spring forward” ritual of setting their clocks an hour ahead and potentially losing some sleep.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 6, 2026

The U.S. oil giant has cut $15 billion from its structural costs in recent years, girding its balance sheet for times of lower oil prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

USC has also been girding for decreases in international student enrollment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2025

That first day, after girding up his coinage for horns, Tyrion had lain flat on his stomach and squirmed to the edge, to poke out his head and look down.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

And at the center is Finland, a country of just 5.4 million people, girt by the sea and lashed by the wind.

From The New Yorker ● May 12, 2015

This week, with the annual Automobile Show in Manhattan marking the January first of the 1938 automobile year, rival makers were girt for renewed combat on a scale far greater than ever before.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus girt with logic, Leon Henderson still had no price weapon last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

To prevent injury or death in case of such a mishap the 20-lb. rotor is girt by an 800-lb. steel shell, 5 in. thick.

From Time Magazine Archive

My Vigor cools to speak of him, so girt is he in Solemnity — Helm and Hauberk — with only the Eyes peering out through the gloomy Visor.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• brace