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
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!
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
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!
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
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.
In 1938, he brought a jaunty brio to “The Adventures of Robin Hood” that forever defined the character.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
All this is conveyed with immense brio, introducing many fascinating insights and characters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
“Troublemaker” logs Mitford’s travels and transformations with brio, even while Ms. Kaplan details accounts of the civil-rights causes Mitford threw herself into.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 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
He protests energetically against the academic virtues, and insists on the importance of forming a personal style which shall reproduce the vivacity, brio, and feverish activity of the best talk.
From Renée Mauperin by Alys Hallard
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.
