breaststroke

noun

breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk How to pronounce breaststroke (audio)
: a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by coordinating a kick in which the legs are brought forward with the knees together and the feet are turned outward and whipped back with a glide and a backward sweeping movement of the arms
breaststroker
ˈbres(t)-ˌstrō-kər How to pronounce breaststroke (audio)
noun

Examples of breaststroke in a Sentence

I'll be competing in the 50-meter breaststroke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then Marchand put an exclamation on the evening by winning the 200 breaststroke, also in Olympic record time, as a deafening French crowd urged him on. —David K. Li, NBC News, 31 July 2024 While at Virginia, Douglass was an NCAA champion in the 200 breaststroke in 2022, 2023 and 2024. —Casey Murphy, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 So a swimmer who competes in multiple events might have a separate classification for breaststroke (SB) and for freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke events (S). —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 3 Sep. 2024 Featuring different swims at different distances, athletes compete in breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, freestyle, and medley. —Molly Higgins, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for breaststroke 

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breaststroke was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near breaststroke

breast strap

breaststroke

breaststroke kick

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Breaststroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breaststroke. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

breaststroke

noun
breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk How to pronounce breaststroke (audio)
: a swimming stroke performed by extending the arms in front of the head while drawing the knees forward and outward and then sweeping the arms back with palms out while kicking backward and outward

More from Merriam-Webster on breaststroke

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breaststroke

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