bring

verb

brought ˈbrȯt How to pronounce bring (audio) ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce bring (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded
brought a bottle of wine to the party
b
: to cause to be, act, or move in a special way: such as
(1)
: attract
her screams brought the neighbors
(2)
: persuade, induce
try to bring them to his way of thinking
(3)
: force, compel
was brought before a judge
(4)
: to cause to come into a particular state or condition
bring water to a boil
c
dialect : escort, accompany
May I bring you home?
d
: to bear as an attribute or characteristic
brings years of experience to the position
2
: to cause to exist or occur: such as
a
: to be the occasion of
winter brings snow
b
: to result in
the drug brought immediate relief
brought tears to her eyes
c
: institute
bring legal action
d
: adduce
bring an argument
3
: prefer
whether to bring legal charges against him
4
: to procure in exchange : sell for
should bring a high price at auction

intransitive verb

chiefly Midland US : yield, produce
bringer noun
Phrases
bring forth
1
: bear
brought forth fruit
2
: to give birth to : produce
3
: adduce
bring forth persuasive arguments
bring forward
1
: to produce to view : introduce
brought new evidence forward
2
: to carry (a total) forward
bring home
: to make unmistakably clear
brought home the importance of exercise
bring to account
1
: to bring to book
must be brought to account for her mistakes
2
bring to bear
: to use with effect
bring pressure to bear
bring to book
: to compel to give an account
bring to light
: disclose, reveal
bring new facts to light
bring to mind
: recall
These events bring to mind another time in history.
bring to terms
: to compel to agree, assent, or submit
bring up the rear
: to come last or behind

Examples of bring in a Sentence

“Should I send you a check?” “Why not just bring me the money when you come?” Have you brought the money with you from the bank? She brought her boyfriend home to meet her parents. Love of adventure brought her here before taking her to many other places. This radio station brings you all the news as it happens. Can anything bring peace to this troubled region? Having a baby has brought great happiness into her life.
Recent Examples on the Web This warning brings attention to the general dangers of baby walkers. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024 In his first film role since coming out as a trans man, the actor has evidently brought much of his own identity and experience to this sensitively observed story of a trans man cagily reunited with his family after a five-year period of estrangement. Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 Carnival Cruise Line brought a taste of what fans can expect from their exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, welcoming guests in 2025. Quincy Green, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 Last year, however, Cypress Hill really seemed to start laying the groundwork to bring the bit to life by booking several shows in the United States alongside the likes of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024 During her tenure, Vicente brought Robert Redford’s 45-year-old festival in Park City, Utah, back in person following two consecutive years of pandemic shutdowns while also opening it up to larger online audiences. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 For dessert, the British-Spanish chef Isabel Garcia, 29, brought two tres leches spongecakes, which sparked a playful debate about the origins of the beloved Latin American dessert, serving them alongside a platter of passion fruit and pawpaw. Alice Cavanagh, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Two other Black congressmen, Louis Stokes of Ohio and Bill Clay of Missouri, entered the House of Representatives that year, bringing the total number of Black members to nine. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 Of the nine days thus far in March, seven, including Saturday, have brought measurable rain. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English bringan; akin to Old High German bringan to bring, Welsh hebrwng to accompany

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bring was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bring

Cite this Entry

“Bring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bring. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bring

verb
brought ˈbrȯt How to pronounce bring (audio) ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce bring (audio)
1
: to cause to come with oneself by carrying or leading especially to the place from which the action is viewed
bring a lunch
2
: to cause to reach a certain state or take a certain action
bring water to a boil
couldn't bring myself to say it
3
: to cause to arrive or exist
winter will bring snow
bring legal action
4
: to sell for
will bring a good price
bringer noun

Legal Definition

bring

transitive verb
brought ˈbrȯt How to pronounce bring (audio) ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce bring (audio)
: to begin or commence (a legal proceeding) through proper legal procedure: as
a
: to put (as a lawsuit) before a court
b
: to formally assert (as a charge or indictment)
brought charges against him

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