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
100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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!
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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 Drummer Boy of Shiloh"
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.
See Examples For:
Tarp sales have been brisk, with the Three Rivers Mercantile store at the bottom of the mountain reporting 60 sold this season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Northerly winds will be fairly brisk around some coasts, and will make it feel rather cool.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Hathaway can handle anything, from a despondent housewife to a rifle-toting badass, but I’ve never seen her tasked to do both in a film this brisk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Peabody’s brisk pace of sales is in stark contrast to the national housing market.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
I walked at a brisk pace to avoid the others.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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
From time to time I’ll make an exception and settle into a relative page-turner: nothing with cliffhangers or lots of hand-to-hand combat, mind you, but with a brisker narrative pace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
We would be in a better place if the speed had been brisker.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2023
The start of snow crab season in mid-October would usher in brisker business.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 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
After the Six Nations left Albany, many of them were taken sick on their Way Home, before they reached the Mohawk Castles, and a considerable Number of the briskest young Men of the Mohawks died.
From The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada Attachments and Support Papers by Cadwallader Colden
Modestine brisked up her pace for perhaps three steps, and then relapsed into her former minuet.
From Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson
"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
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
‘At any rate, the deadly lively time has brisked you all up,’ said Bertha, laughing.
From That Stick by Charlotte Mary Yonge
After a while the party started on their way once more feeling greatly brisked up.
From The Adventures of Akbar by Byam Shaw
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
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
“Oh rather,” he assented, brisking up at the prospect of a row.
From A Frontier Mystery by Bertram Mitford
“He wandered off by himself,” Major Coote answered, brisking up a little.
From Athelstane Ford by Allen Upward
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
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.
