brio
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of brio
First recorded in 1725–35; from Italian, from Spanish brío “energy, determination,” from assumed Celtic brīgos; compare Old Irish bríg (feminine) “power, strength, force,” Middle Welsh bri (masculine) “honor, dignity, authority”
Explanation
If someone's got brio, they're full of spirited enthusiasm. You know that counselor who gets the whole camp incredibly excited about playing Capture the Flag? She's got brio! Energy, vivacity, and style are all important elements of brio. If you do something with brio, you bring all of your zest and vigor to it. If you sing a karaoke song with brio, you might get the whole room singing along and applauding. And your uncle might be known for telling scary campfire stories with brio, using spooky voices and elaborate hand gestures. In Italian, brio means "mettle, fire, or life," from a Celtic word meaning "strength."
Vocabulary lists containing brio
Middlemarch
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
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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.
The singers embraced the madness with brio, especially Mr. Liverman, who invited audience participation, including a singalong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
By contrast, “Liberation,” which was directed with captivating brio by Whitney White, left no doubts about the exceptional quality of the writing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
Mr. Jordan tells the story of Eisenhower and Churchill with great brio.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
"Signed a hundred NDAs but I still say something," she snarls with punky brio over an Oh Mickey drumbeat.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
With his fiery vision, his brio of execution, his palette charged with jewelled radiance, Monticelli would have been the man to have changed the official interiors of Paris.
From Promenades of an Impressionist by James Huneker
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
