strut

To strut means to walk in a proud, confident way, often to get attention or show that you feel important, attractive, or pleased with yourself. Picture a peacock showing its feathers, a rooster moving around the yard, or a model walking down a runway. In each case, the walk is meant to be seen.

People also use the word more loosely when someone is showing off their looks, style, or skill. There is another meaning too: a strut can be a bar or support that helps hold something up, such as part of a building or a car. But in everyday English, the walking meaning is the one you will hear most often.

To strut is to walk with a proud, bold, and noticeable way of moving, usually because you want other people to look at you. The movement often suggests confidence, self-importance, or a wish to impress. You can imagine a peacock, a rooster, or a fashion model on a runway. You might also use it for a person who has just bought new clothes and walks around as if everyone should admire them.

The word often suggests more than simple confidence. It can sound playful, but it can also suggest vanity, pride, or a slightly exaggerated sense of self. A performer may strut across a stage to hold the audience's attention. An athlete may strut after a big win. A child may strut around in new shoes. In all of these scenes, the person is not just walking from one place to another. They are putting on a display.

As a noun, a strut is also a stiff support bar or brace used to hold part of a structure in place. You may hear this in engineering, building, or car repair. Even though this is a different use, the connection is the idea of stiffness and support. Still, when most learners meet the word in everyday English, it usually refers to that proud, showy kind of walk.