brisk
Americanadjective
-
brisker,
comparative
-
briskest
superlative
verb (used with or without object)
adjective
-
lively and quick; vigorous
a brisk walk
trade was brisk
-
invigorating or sharp
brisk weather
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of brisk
First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin
Explanation
Brisk is one of those delightful words that sounds like what it means: quick, lively, bracing, and refreshing. There's nothing like a brisk walk in the morning to get the blood flowing and the spirit ready for the day. Anything brisk is happening quickly but not too fast. Probably taken from the French brusque, which also means "quick," but in a more negative way, brisk can be used to describe not only physical actions but also more conceptual notions, such as brisk business around the holidays or brisk interactions at a speed-dating event. The soft-drink called Brisk must be called that for a good reason. Perhaps it picks you up!
Vocabulary lists containing brisk
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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:
Given low unemployment and brisk inflation, why weren’t wages growing faster?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Analysts are parsing the impact of Robinhood’s brisk rollout of new services and products.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
Aerobic exercise is physical activity that increases heart rate and breathing, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026
Temperatures will fall much closer to the seasonal norm with brisk winds accentuating the colder feel around some eastern coasts and the chance of overnight frost in places.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
He works his way around the car, his movements brisk and deliberate.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
The show, the first in a five-part series, is considerably brisker than that.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
While heatwave conditions will continue across many parts of England and Wales through this coming week, a brisker wind means temperatures have dropped a degree or two relative to recent days.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
We would be in a better place if the speed had been brisker.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2023
The ensemble played these pieces with brisker transparency and perhaps more varied colors; Nézet-Séguin’s textures in “Don Carlos,” airier than Levine’s, felt of a piece with the elegant nasality of French.
From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2022
One morning there was a different smell in the air, and the ship was moving oddly, with a brisker rocking from side to side instead of the plunging and soaring.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly accelerated in August to the briskest pace since April and firms reported input price pressures eased to the lowest since late 2020.
From Reuters ● Aug. 18, 2022
The planets are putting on an amazing celestial show nightly, and many regions of the country are about to host some of the briskest bird traffic of the year.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2021
Ms. Mearns, never rushed by this, creates marvelous dynamic variety within it, often finding time to phrase with seeming slowness, while rising to its briskest passages as if riding the full power of a wave.
From New York Times ● Sep. 23, 2015
British factories followed Asia's lead, increasing activity at the fastest rate in seven months while creating new jobs in at the briskest pace in more than three years.
From Reuters ● Jul. 1, 2014
The men moved sluggishly about their duties, with no elasticity in their steps; and even Jack and Adair, the briskest of the brisk, felt scarcely able to drag their feet after them.
From The Three Lieutenants by Archibald Webb
At the first announcement of their decision, Rhys brisked up wonderfully.
From The Making of William Edwards or The Story of the Bridge of Beauty by Mrs. G. Linnaeus Banks
He woke up when the march was over and brisked up his moustache.
From Villa Rubein, and other stories by John Galsworthy
The night air and moonlight brisked him up; he felt a reaction towards Sabina and perceived that she must have suffered a good deal.
From The Spinners by Eden Phillpotts
"But this will not be the finish," said I; "the dogs are not howling," and at that old Betty brisked herself.
From The McBrides A Romance of Arran by John Sillars
It is all the best-humoured affair imaginable, refreshingly full of country airs and brisked up with a fine flavour of romance.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, March 19, 1919 by Various
As I write, the breeze is brisking up, doors are beginning to slam, and shutters; a strong draught sweeps round the balcony; it looks doubtful for to-morrow.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 24 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson
“He wandered off by himself,” Major Coote answered, brisking up a little.
From Athelstane Ford by Allen Upward
"Such a charming musical evening—such a treat!" said she, brisking up, and quite unaware of what had been passing round her the last two hours.
From Bluebell A Novel by Mrs. George Croft Huddleston
She was relieved to see that the oddly assorted men and women about her were brisking up, and beginning to talk, even to laugh, with one another.
From From out the Vasty Deep by Marie Belloc Lowndes
As I write the breeze is brisking up, doors are beginning to slam: and shutters; a strong draught sweeps round the balcony; it looks doubtful for to-morrow.
From Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2 by Robert Louis Stevenson
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