brandish
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has brandishedperfect 3rd person singular
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have brandishedperfect
-
is brandishingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been brandishingperfect progressive
-
are brandishingprogressive
-
has been brandishingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am brandishingprogressive 1st person singular
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brandishessingular 3rd person
-
brandishingparticiple
Past
-
had brandishedperfect
-
were brandishingprogressive plural
-
was brandishingprogressive singular
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brandishedparticiple
-
brandishedsimple
-
had been brandishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brandish
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bra(u)ndisshen, from Anglo-French, Middle French brandiss- (long stem of brandir, derivative of brand “sword,” from Germanic ); see origin at brand, -ish 2
Explanation
To brandish something is to wave it about aggressively, as one might brandish a sword or tennis racket (if it's a particularly intense game). Brandish often implies that a person is wielding a physical weapon. In fact, brandish comes from the archaic French word brandir, meaning "sword." However, it’s also possible to brandish objects that aren’t weapons. If you win a bowling tournament, for example, you might be inclined to brandish your shiny new trophy in front of the other competitors. Be careful, though; they might mistake your trophy for a "brandir" and respond accordingly.
Vocabulary lists containing brandish
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That was followed by a red flag incident at Brandish near the end of Tuesday evening's sidecar qualifying session, which left Maria Costello and her passenger Shaun Parker injured.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
Brandish was chased after giving up three runs in the fifth and replaced by Cionel Perez, who struck out Nick Maton with two runners on to get out of the inning.
From Washington Times • Apr. 30, 2023
Brandish ing their wormy palettes, these venerable shades mock the belief in linear progress that was once a byword of modernism.
From Time Magazine Archive
ROCK-CRYSTAL Comets, importing change of times and states, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky.
From Shakespeare and Precious Stones Treating of the Known References of Precious Stones in Shakespeare's Works, with Comments as to the Origin of His Material, the Knowledge of the Poet Concerning Precious Stones, and References as to Where the Precious Stones of His Time Came from by Kunz, George Frederick
Brandish, brand′ish, v.t. to wave or flourish as a brand or weapon.—n. a waving or flourish.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
