bring

[ bring ]

verb (used with object)

, brought, bring·ing.

1. to carry, convey, conduct, or cause (someone or something) to come with, to, or toward the speaker:

   Bring the suitcase to my house.

   He brought his brother to my office.

   Synonyms: guide, lead, transport

2. to cause to come to or toward oneself; attract:

   Her scream brought the police.

   He brought honor to his family by his heroism.

3. to cause to occur or exist:

   The medication brought instant relief.

4. to cause to come into a particular position, state, or effect:

   to bring the car to a stop.

5. to cause to appear or occur in the mind; evoke or recall:

   The letter brought her memories of youth.

6. to persuade, convince, compel, or induce:

   She couldn't bring herself to sell the painting.

7. to sell for; fetch:

   These lamps will bring a good price.

8. Law. to commence:

   to bring an action for damages.

verb phrase

1. 1. to expose; reveal.
   2. to make noticeable or conspicuous in a contrast.
   3. to publish, as a book or play.
   4. to introduce officially into society:

      to bring out a debutante.

2. 1. to cause to happen or exist; bring about:

      This incident will surely bring on a crisis.

   2. to introduce; cause to appear:

      Bring on the clowns.

3. 1. to care for during childhood; rear.
   2. to introduce or mention for attention, discussion, action, or consideration.
   3. to vomit.
   4. to stop or cause to stop quickly:

      to bring up a car at the curb.

   5. Nautical. (of a vessel) to cause to halt, as by lowering an anchor or running aground; fetch up.
4. 1. to yield, as profits or income:

      My part-time job doesn't bring in much, but I enjoy it.

   2. to present officially; submit:

      The jury brought in its verdict.

   3. to cause to operate or yield:

      They brought in a gusher on his property.

   4. to present for consideration, approval, etc.; introduce:

      She brought in six new members last month.

5. 1. to give birth to; deliver; bear:

      to bring forth a son.

   2. to give rise to; introduce:

      to bring forth a proposal for reducing costs.

6. 1. to bring to view; show.
   2. to present for consideration; adduce:

      to bring forward an opinion.

7. to accomplish, carry out, or achieve (something):

   He brought off his speech with ease.

8. 1. to convince of a belief or opinion; persuade:

      I think we can bring him around to agreeing with the plan.

   2. to restore to consciousness, as after a faint.
   3. to bring as a visitor:

      They brought around a new employee this morning.

9. 1. to bring back to consciousness; revive.
   2. Nautical. to head (a vessel) close to or into the wind so as to halt.
10. to accomplish; cause:

    Land reform brought about a great change in the lives of the common people.

11. 1. to injure, capture, or kill:

       He brought down several ducks on his last hunting trip.

    2. to lessen; reduce:

       I won't buy that lamp unless they bring down the price.

    3. Slang. to cause to be in low spirits; depress:

       The bad news brought him down.

bring

/ brɪŋ /

verb

1. to carry, convey, or take (something or someone) to a designated place or person

   bring that book to me

   will you bring Jessica to Tom's party?

2. to cause to happen or occur to (oneself or another)

   to bring disrespect on oneself

3. to cause to happen as a consequence

   responsibility brings maturity

4. to cause to come to mind

   it brought back memories

5. to cause to be in a certain state, position, etc

   the punch brought him to his knees

6. to force, persuade, or make (oneself)

   I couldn't bring myself to do it

7. to sell for; fetch

   the painting brought 20 pounds

8. law
   1. to institute (proceedings, charges, etc)
   2. to put (evidence, etc) before a tribunal
9. bring forth
   bring forth to give birth to
10. bring home to
    bring home to
    1. to convince of

       his account brought home to us the gravity of the situation

    2. to place the blame on
11. See bear
    bring to bear
    bring to bear See bear 1

Derived Forms

• ˈbringer, noun

Other Words From

• bringer noun
• outbring verb (used with object) outbrought outbringing

Word History and Origins

Origin of bring¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English bringen, Old English bringan; cognate with Dutch brengen, German bringen, Gothic briggan

Word History and Origins

Origin of bring¹

Old English bringan ; related to Gothic briggan , Old High German bringan

Synonym Study

Bring, fetch, take imply conveying or conducting in relation to the place where the speaker is. To bring is simply to convey or conduct: Bring it to me. I'm permitted to bring my dog here with me. It is the opposite of take, which means to convey or conduct away from the place where the speaker is: Bring it back here. Take it back there. Fetch means to go, get, and bring back: Fetch me that bottle.

Example Sentences

Either we will sell it to someone interested in buying it, or go into some business scenario where I’m just silently investing in some young talent that wants to bring it forward.

From Eater

It’ll be brought down to a very low number from right now, from where it’s getting to reach its peak.

From Washington Post

You may also be able to bring it to a designated drop-off site or place it in a secure dropbox.

From ProPublica

When we brought in the National Guard, everything stopped, the crime was gone meaning the whole thing.

From Washington Post

Fall brings cooler temperatures for mountain biking and camping, but summer offers time for tubing, paddleboarding, and jumping into lakes.

From Outside Online

Taraji manages to bring an equal measure of truth to the mother in her character.

From The Daily Beast

But news of the classes is spread mainly by word of mouth, and participants bring along their friends and families.

From The Daily Beast

The wives have been traveling for years across the globe to bring attention to the case.

From The Daily Beast

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season liberally with salt.

From The Daily Beast

Their friends noticed, and asked Sabrine to talk to him to bring him out of his shell a little.

From The Daily Beast

It is the dramatic impulse of childhood endeavouring to bring life into the dulness of the serious hours.

From Project Gutenberg

When he gets quite large the boy will get tired of having him for a pet, and perhaps bring him back.

From Project Gutenberg

The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.

From Project Gutenberg

There is cause for alarm when they bring one hundred and ten ships into these seas without any means of resistance on our part.

From Project Gutenberg

The blind Samson of labor will seize upon the pillars of society and bring them down in a common destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• begin
• contribute to
• create
• force
• lead
• make
• move
• produce
• prompt