bring

[ bring ]

/ brɪŋ /

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verb (used with object), brought, bring·ing.

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.

to cause to come to or toward oneself; attract: Her scream brought the police. He brought honor to his family by his heroism.

to cause to occur or exist: The medication brought instant relief.

to cause to come into a particular position, state, or effect: to bring the car to a stop.

to cause to appear or occur in the mind; evoke or recall: The letter brought her memories of youth.

to persuade, convince, compel, or induce: She couldn't bring herself to sell the painting.

to sell for; fetch: These lamps will bring a good price.

Law. to commence: to bring an action for damages.

Verb Phrases

bring about, to accomplish; cause: Land reform brought about a great change in the lives of the common people.

bring around/round,

to convince of a belief or opinion; persuade: I think we can bring him around to agreeing with the plan.
to restore to consciousness, as after a faint.
to bring as a visitor: They brought around a new employee this morning.

bring down,

to injure, capture, or kill: He brought down several ducks on his last hunting trip.
to lessen; reduce: I won't buy that lamp unless they bring down the price.
Slang. to cause to be in low spirits; depress: The bad news brought him down.

bring forth,

to give birth to; deliver; bear: to bring forth a son.
to give rise to; introduce: to bring forth a proposal for reducing costs.

bring forward,

to bring to view; show.
to present for consideration; adduce: to bring forward an opinion.

bring in,

to yield, as profits or income: My part-time job doesn't bring in much, but I enjoy it.
to present officially; submit: The jury brought in its verdict.
to cause to operate or yield: They brought in a gusher on his property.
to present for consideration, approval, etc.; introduce: She brought in six new members last month.

bring off, to accomplish, carry out, or achieve (something): He brought off his speech with ease.

bring on,

to cause to happen or exist; bring about: This incident will surely bring on a crisis.
to introduce; cause to appear: Bring on the clowns.

bring out,

to expose; reveal.
to make noticeable or conspicuous in a contrast.
to publish, as a book or play.
to introduce officially into society: to bring out a debutante.

bring to,

to bring back to consciousness; revive.
Nautical. to head (a vessel) close to or into the wind so as to halt.

bring up,

to care for during childhood; rear.
to introduce or mention for attention, discussion, action, or consideration.
to vomit.
to stop or cause to stop quickly: to bring up a car at the curb.
Nautical. (of a vessel) to cause to halt, as by lowering an anchor or running aground; fetch up.

Nearby words

brindley, brine, brine shrimp, brinell hardness number, brinelling, bring, bring about, bring around, bring down, bring down the curtain, bring down the house

Origin of bring

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

SYNONYMS FOR bring

1 transport; lead, guide.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bring ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

bring·er, nounout·bring, verb (used with object), out·brought, out·bring·ing.

Can be confused

bring fetch¹ take (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonym study

1. 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for bring up (1 of 2)

bring up

verb (tr, adverb)

to care for and train (a child); rearwe had been brought up to go to church

to raise (a subject) for discussion; mention

to vomit (food)

(foll by against) to cause (a person) to face or confront

(foll by to) to cause (something) to be of a required standard

British Dictionary definitions for bring up (2 of 2)

bring

/ (brɪŋ) /

verb brings, bringing or brought (tr)

to carry, convey, or take (something or someone) to a designated place or personbring that book to me; will you bring Jessica to Tom's party?

to cause to happen or occur to (oneself or another)to bring disrespect on oneself

to cause to happen as a consequenceresponsibility brings maturity

to cause to come to mindit brought back memories

to cause to be in a certain state, position, etcthe punch brought him to his knees

to force, persuade, or make (oneself)I couldn't bring myself to do it

to sell for; fetchthe painting brought 20 pounds

law

to institute (proceedings, charges, etc)
to put (evidence, etc) before a tribunal

bring forth to give birth to

bring home to

to convince ofhis account brought home to us the gravity of the situation
to place the blame on

bring to bear See bear 1 (def. 17)

Derived Forms

bringer, noun

Word Origin for bring

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with bring up

bring up

Raise from childhood, rear. For example, Bringing up children is both difficult and rewarding. [Late 1400s]

Introduce into discussion, mention, as in Let's not bring up the cost right now. [Second half of 1800s]

Vomit, as in She still felt sick but couldn't bring up anything. This usage was first recorded in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719).