brandish
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
brandishsimple
-
brandishessimple
-
have brandishedperfect
-
has brandishedperfect
-
am brandishingprogressive
-
are brandishingprogressive
-
is brandishingprogressive
-
have been brandishingperfect progressive
-
has been brandishingperfect progressive
Past
-
brandishedsimple
-
had brandishedperfect
-
was brandishingprogressive
-
were brandishingprogressive
-
had been brandishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brandish
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bra(u)ndisshen, from Anglo-French, Middle French brandiss- (long stem of brandir, derivative of brand “sword,” from Germanic ); see origin at brand, -ish 2
Explanation
To brandish something is to wave it about aggressively, as one might brandish a sword or tennis racket (if it's a particularly intense game). Brandish often implies that a person is wielding a physical weapon. In fact, brandish comes from the archaic French word brandir, meaning "sword." However, it’s also possible to brandish objects that aren’t weapons. If you win a bowling tournament, for example, you might be inclined to brandish your shiny new trophy in front of the other competitors. Be careful, though; they might mistake your trophy for a "brandir" and respond accordingly.
Vocabulary lists containing brandish
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Lord of the Flies
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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:
As someone who has hyper-specific playlists to regulate my moods, I appreciate that whether you want to party, chill outside or brandish your middle finger to the world, the Salon DJ Collective has you covered.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
He didn’t brandish it as a symbol or treat the moment like a breakthrough to be celebrated.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
He confirms that he’s been chipping away at a debut LP, which will brandish a more “fast and punchy” rock sound that recall his days playing basement shows.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025
People on social media brandish gold-flecked pans and nuggets while showing off their equipment, ranging from old-fashioned picks to gold-separating sluice boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025
Tyrion felt a sudden urge to leap up, brandish his axe, and boom out, "Casterly Rock!" but the insanity passed quickly and he crouched down lower.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
He brandishes a plastic wallet and shows the cards for his entire family.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2023
Adia Barnes brandishes honesty like a feather, sharp enough at the tip to make a point, soft around the edges to soothe the ego.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 12, 2022
Notice how Hussman brandishes the shield of objectivity in making the case for his own perspective:
From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2021
One agent brandishes his firearm like a John Woo villain, not a Quantico graduate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2020
Autumn scrambles up and brandishes her sword, baring her teeth in response before yelling, “For … us!”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
They brandished the Mexican flag seemingly everywhere: on banners, painted on cheeks, emblazoned on Jaimes’ tube top.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
And unlike Michael Drejka, she brandished her gun without discharging it.
From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026
The knives—or fountain pens—were brandished during a secretive meeting of Paul Weiss’s blandly-named “Deciding Group.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
At the event, he wore dark glasses and camouflage fatigues, brandished an Israeli-made rifle and shouted revolutionary slogans.
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
I twisted in his arms and brandished the sprayer over my shoulder to sprinkle him again, but he managed to turn it on me.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
When supporters of the creedal nation theory come at me brandishing copies of the Declaration, I respect their sentiments but maintain my dissent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
In a parallel move, Iranian President Masoud Pezehshkian followed suit, with Iranian news agencies showing him brandishing his copy of the deal.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
“It’s hard to argue that brandishing a firearm during a traffic misunderstanding is either allowed by federal law or necessary and proper for fulfilling ICE’s duties,” he said.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026
Razelle Swimmer carried around a puppet of the Swedish Chef from the Muppets, brandishing knives and wearing an apron that said “Eat the Rich.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2026
Crane-man bellowed in mock anger, brandishing the crutch sword- fashion.
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
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.
