Brace
verb/nounBase brace · Past braced · Past Participle braced · Present Participle bracing · 3rd person braces
Definition
1. (verb) To prepare yourself physically or mentally for something difficult, painful, or unpleasant that is about to happen.
2. (noun) A device that supports, holds, or strengthens something — used for teeth, body parts, or structures.
2. (noun) A device that supports, holds, or strengthens something — used for teeth, body parts, or structures.
Context Alive
You're sitting in the dentist's chair and she tells you she needs to pull out a wisdom tooth. She picks up a tool and says "this might hurt a little." You grip the armrests, close your eyes, and brace yourself. A few seconds later it's over, and it wasn't as bad as you expected — but your hands are still shaking from the tension.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Prepare for Something Difficult (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about getting yourself ready — physically or mentally — for something unpleasant that's coming. Imagine you're on a turbulent flight and the pilot announces that everyone should return to their seats because the next few minutes will be rough. You grip your armrest and brace yourself for the shaking. This is describing that moment of tensing up and mentally preparing. You might say "brace yourself for bad news" when you're about to tell someone something they won't want to hear, or someone could say "the country is bracing for a major storm" when a hurricane is approaching. Or picture a football player about to be tackled — he sees the defender running at him and braces for the impact, tightening every muscle in his body. The word suggests you know something tough is coming and you're getting ready to handle it.
✏️ Brace yourself is by far the most common form. People use it literally (gripping something before a crash) and figuratively (preparing emotionally for bad news). On social media, "brace yourselves" has become a popular meme format — usually followed by something dramatic or funny that's about to happen.
2 A Device That Supports or Strengthens (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about a physical object that holds something in place, keeps it stable, or helps it heal. Imagine a teenager going to the orthodontist and being told they need to wear braces on their teeth for two years to straighten them. This is describing a device that applies pressure or support to fix or strengthen something. You might hear "she wore a knee brace after the surgery" about someone recovering from an injury, or someone could say "the builders added braces to the wall" to describe metal supports that keep a structure from collapsing. Or think about someone with a back injury wearing a back brace under their shirt at work — it holds their spine in the right position so they can move without pain. The word suggests support, correction, and holding something firmly in place.
✏️ The plural braces is used for teeth — "I had braces when I was fourteen" is something you'll hear a lot. For injuries, it's usually singular: "a knee brace," "a wrist brace," "a neck brace." In British English, braces also means suspenders — the straps that hold up trousers — which can cause confusion!
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
brace yourself / yourselves → prepare physically or mentally for something tough
Brace yourself — I've got some bad news.
brace for + noun → get ready for a specific difficult event
The city is bracing for the worst storm in a decade.
wear a brace → to use a supportive device on a body part
She has to wear a brace on her wrist for six weeks.
Common Structures
brace for impact → prepare for a physical collision or crash — also used figuratively
The passengers were told to brace for impact before the emergency landing.
braced against + noun → holding yourself firmly against something for support
She braced herself against the wall as the building shook.
have / get braces → to wear or receive orthodontic braces on your teeth
He got braces when he was twelve and had them removed at fourteen.
Collocations
10 collocationsbrace yourself
prepare yourself for something unpleasant or shocking
brace for impact
get ready for a crash or collision — literal or figurative
brace for the worst
prepare mentally for the worst possible outcome
knee brace
a supportive device worn around the knee after injury
neck brace
a rigid support worn around the neck to prevent movement
back brace
a device that supports the spine and lower back
dental braces
metal or ceramic devices fixed to teeth to straighten them
brace against the wind
to hold yourself steady against strong wind
bracing cold
cold that is sharp and refreshing — makes you feel alert
brace for a storm
to prepare for severe weather or a difficult situation
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
Brace yourself — the photos from last night's party are about to go online.
Get ready — the pictures from yesterday's party are being posted right now.
2
She braced herself for the injection and squeezed her mum's hand tightly.
She tensed up before the needle and held her mother's hand as hard as she could.
3
The whole country is bracing for a major economic downturn.
The entire nation is preparing for a serious drop in the economy.
4
He wore a knee brace for three months after tearing his ligament.
He had a support device on his knee for three months after his ligament injury.
5
I had braces on my teeth for two years and it was worth every minute.
I wore orthodontic devices on my teeth for two years and the results made it all worthwhile.
6
The pilot told everyone to brace for impact as the plane lost altitude.
The pilot instructed all passengers to prepare for a crash as the aircraft dropped.
7
She braced herself against the railing as the ferry rocked in the waves.
She held onto the railing tightly as the boat swayed in the rough sea.
8
The doctor said she needs to wear a back brace while the fracture heals.
The doctor told her to use a spinal support device until the broken bone recovers.
9
We're all bracing for the boss's reaction when he sees the sales figures.
We're all getting mentally ready for how the boss will respond to the sales numbers.
10
He braced for the worst, but the test results came back completely normal.
He prepared himself for terrible news, but the medical results turned out to be fine.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items
Idioms & Expressionsbrace yourself — A warning to prepare mentally or physically for something shocking, difficult, or dramatic that is about to happen.
"Brace yourself," she said before showing him the repair bill for the car.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsprepare
more general and neutral — doesn't carry the same physical tension
steady
focuses on keeping yourself stable and calm before something happens
support
works for the noun meaning — a device that holds or strengthens something
Antonymsrelax
to let go of tension — the opposite of bracing and tightening up
ignore
to not prepare at all — pretending nothing is coming
collapse
to give way under pressure instead of holding firm