Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

brisk

American  
[brisk] / brɪsk /

adjective

brisker, briskest

  1. quick and active; lively.

    brisk trading;

    a brisk walk.
    Synonyms:
    alert, energetic, spry
    Antonyms:
    languid

  2. sharp and stimulating: brisk wind.

    brisk weather;

    brisk wind.

  3. (of liquors) effervescing vigorously.

    brisk cider.

  4. abrupt; curt.

    I was surprised by her rather brisk tone.

verb (used with or without object)

brisked, brisking

  1. to make or become brisk; liven (often followed byup ).

brisk British  
/ brɪsk /

adjective

  1. lively and quick; vigorous

    a brisk walk

    trade was brisk

  2. invigorating or sharp

    brisk weather
"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

verb

  1. (often foll by up) to enliven; make or become brisk

"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

Other Word Forms

  • briskly adverb
  • briskness noun

Etymology

Origin of brisk

First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin

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.

Illuminated by fairy lights and a rosy sunset, a willowy queen named Sheryka lip-synced to Toni Braxton and danced to a brisk guaguancó number with a friend.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Policy decisions can pull yields in different directions, particularly when geopolitical events are moving at a brisk clip.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

A summer sky appears “fitful and whimsical in a brisk north breeze.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

As we approach the middle of March, occasional spells of rain and brisk winds are possible with milder than average conditions and no significant cold weather likely at this stage.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

The final gathering on Valentine farm took place on a brisk December night.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

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.