MEANING
To prepare oneself physically or mentally for an expected shock, difficulty, or impact.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- brace for impact
- brace yourself for bad news
- brace against a blow
On the page
She braced herself for the sound of the door breaking.
He braced against the wall as the cabin lurched.
The family braced for bad news when the surgeon returned alone.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- brace / braces
- Past tense
- braced
- Past participle
- braced
- Present participle
- bracing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- brace / braces
- Present continuous
- am/is/are bracing
- Present perfect
- have/has braced
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been bracing
- Past
- braced
- Past continuous
- was/were bracing
- Past perfect
- had braced
- Past perfect continuous
- had been bracing
- Future
- will brace / braces
- Future continuous
- will be bracing
- Future perfect
- will have braced
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been bracing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. Often brace yourself for; readiness can be rational rather than fearful. Physical bracing can involve a support or rigid stance. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): brace, braces, braced, braced, bracing.
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