brook
noun
a small, natural stream of fresh water.
brook
1 American
[brook]
/ brʊk /
noun
brooks
plural
brook
2
American
[brook]
/ brʊk /
verb (used with object)
brooks,
present (3rd person singular)
brooked,
past participle, past
brooking
present participle
Brook
1
British
/ brʊk /
noun
brook
2
British
/ brʊk /
noun
brook
3
British
/ brʊk /
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
brooksimple
-
brookssimple
-
have brookedperfect
-
has brookedperfect
-
am brookingprogressive
-
are brookingprogressive
-
is brookingprogressive
-
have been brookingperfect progressive
-
has been brookingperfect progressive
Past
-
brookedsimple
-
had brookedperfect
-
was brookingprogressive
-
were brookingprogressive
-
had been brookingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brook1
before 900; Middle English; Old English brōc stream; cognate with Dutch broek, German Bruch marsh
Origin of brook2
before 900; Middle English brouken, Old English brūcan; cognate with Dutch bruiken, German brauchen; akin to Gothic brukjan, Latin fruī to enjoy
Explanation
A brook is a small stream. On a hot day, you might enjoy wading in a babbling brook. As a verb, brook is a rather stuffy word for "put up with." The lord of the manor might say, "I will brook no trespassing on my land." Brook is tailor-made for talking about what you won't stand for — it's always "brook no..." If you brook no criticism of your friend, it means you won't let people speak ill of her. If you brook no brooks, it means you've developed a bizarre hatred of streams and will spend the rest of your days trying to avoid them.
Vocabulary lists containing brook
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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.
Brook, 27, was named England white-ball captain last year and was promoted to Stokes' vice-captain in the Test side for last winter's Ashes tour.
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
"I'm just happy that I'm playing cricket for England," said Brook.
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
He was given a standing ovation as he approached the crease for the delivery that dismissed Foulkes, the ground erupting as Harry Brook pouched a catch at second slip.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Foulkes' edge was held at second slip by vice-captain Harry Brook, Stokes' likely successor.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Caitlin, Mrs. Brook says, why are there cuts on your fingers?
From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine
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.
