1 C1 formal
(Nautical) To position the yards nearly in line with the ship's keel so the wind passes by the sails without filling them.
"The sailing master ordered them to brace by to reduce speed as they approached the shallow waters."
brace by
C1 formal transitive
A nautical term: to position the yards of a square-rigged ship so they are nearly parallel to the keel, allowing the wind to pass by with minimal sail effect.
In plain English
In sailing, to turn the sails so they line up nearly with the length of the ship, letting the wind slip past them.
What does "brace by" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To brace (angle) the yards so the wind passes by them rather than filling them.
Actually means
In sailing, to turn the sails so they line up nearly with the length of the ship, letting the wind slip past them.
Usage tip
A highly specialized nautical command used in square-rigged sailing. Not encountered outside of maritime literature, history, or specialist sailing contexts.
Words that pair with "brace by"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
yards keel wind sails ship
How to conjugate "brace by"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
brace by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
braces by
he/she/it
Past simple
braced by
yesterday
Past participle
braced by
have + pp
-ing form
bracing by
continuous
Hear "brace by" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "brace by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.