brandish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
brandishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
brandished,
past participle, past
-
brandishing
present participle
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
brandishsimple
-
brandishessimple
-
have brandishedperfect
-
has brandishedperfect
-
am brandishingprogressive
-
are brandishingprogressive
-
is brandishingprogressive
-
have been brandishingperfect progressive
-
has been brandishingperfect progressive
Past
-
brandishedsimple
-
had brandishedperfect
-
was brandishingprogressive
-
were brandishingprogressive
-
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
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lord of the Flies
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Touching Spirit Bear
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
As someone who has hyper-specific playlists to regulate my moods, I appreciate that whether you want to party, chill outside or brandish your middle finger to the world, the Salon DJ Collective has you covered.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
He didn’t brandish it as a symbol or treat the moment like a breakthrough to be celebrated.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
People on social media brandish gold-flecked pans and nuggets while showing off their equipment, ranging from old-fashioned picks to gold-separating sluice boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025
Best mates at Bournemouth, midfielders Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook run the rule over various sporting and social controversies - but will they dish out a booking or brandish a straight red?
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2024
Crossing Fourteenth Street, an unmedicated psychotic would brandish a toilet brush, his mouth moving wordlessly as, in my head, the young people of France requested a table with a view of the fountain.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Georginio Rutter takes out Alex Matos in an aerial challenge and the referee brandishes his yellow card.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2024
As proof, Madea brandishes a photo she took in the moment on her smartphone.
From New York Times ● Feb. 25, 2022
Adia Barnes brandishes honesty like a feather, sharp enough at the tip to make a point, soft around the edges to soothe the ego.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2022
As Jean Arp once said, “My wife brandishes compass and ruler day and night,” and that is more than evident from the taut perfection of many of her best geometric designs.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 31, 2021
Autumn scrambles up and brandishes her sword, baring her teeth in response before yelling, “For … us!”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Stewart brandished his baton and was heard to shout "Murray Boys".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
They brandished the Mexican flag seemingly everywhere: on banners, painted on cheeks, emblazoned on Jaimes’ tube top.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
And unlike Michael Drejka, she brandished her gun without discharging it.
From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026
Kassis brandished his credentials as President Assad’s cousin—which a photographed ID found on his phone after his arrest confirmed—and showed selfies posing with Syrian generals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026
When she brandished the stick, however, a spinning haze of brilliant dots flooded up before her eyes.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
We are here because Eatherly went well beyond brandishing a loaded epithet.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Dozens of people also paraded through the village on "salengs" -- scooters with sidecars used locally to transport coconuts -- brandishing placards featuring images of healthy, smiling livers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
About six months later, Vivos sought to evict him, citing a rule against brandishing firearms—a rule added after he signed his lease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
“It’s hard to argue that brandishing a firearm during a traffic misunderstanding is either allowed by federal law or necessary and proper for fulfilling ICE’s duties,” he said.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026
Beneath is Justice, brandishing a golden sword and scales, standing between Death and Punishment, and treading underfoot Avarice and Envy, the gods of the merchants.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
