brandish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
brandishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
brandished,
past participle, past
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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
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are brandishingprogressive
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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
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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.
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
We waved the Mexican flag with pride, finding no need to brandish the Stars and Stripes that we kept in our hearts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025
Reputation is like a sort of armor, or a weapon you can brandish if need be.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
He brandishes a plastic wallet and shows the cards for his entire family.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2023
Barasch brandishes a piercing falsetto to impress upon us Orpheus’ innocent intensity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 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
Notice how Hussman brandishes the shield of objectivity in making the case for his own perspective:
From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2021
She picks up a chopstick and brandishes it as a sword.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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
They blew whistles, sounded vuvuzelas and brandished banners.
From BBC ● May 8, 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
She brandished a five-foot-long spear, its barbed metal tip flickering with red light.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
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
"We want to see the pope!" they chanted in the small streets surrounding Cibeles square, brandishing their QR access codes on sheets of paper and phones.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
Here, he is crowned and brandishing a scepter, but the skittishness toward the ultimate reality of life — its unavoidable end — makes him a heightened version of all of us.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 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
Dadi said, brandishing her rolling pin around at you and Sahil.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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.
