bracket

noun

brack·et | \ˈbra-kət

Definition of bracket

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an overhanging member that projects from a structure (such as a wall) and is usually designed to support a vertical load or to strengthen an angle

2 : a fixture (as for holding a lamp) projecting from a wall or column

3a : one of a pair of marks [ ] used in writing and printing to enclose matter or in mathematics and logic as signs of aggregation

— called also square bracket

b : one of the pair of marks 〈〉 used to enclose matter

— called also angle bracket

c : parenthesis sense 3

d : brace sense 5b

4 : a section of a continuously numbered or graded series (such as age ranges or income levels)

5 : a pairing of opponents in an elimination tournament

bracket

verb

bracketed; bracketing; brackets

Definition of bracket (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to place within or as if within brackets editorial comments are bracketed news stories bracketed by commercials

b : to eliminate from consideration bracket off politics

c : to extend around so as to encompass : include test pressures … which bracket virtually the entire range of passenger-car tire pressures — Consumer Reports

2 : to furnish or fasten with brackets

3 : to put in the same category or group bracketed in a tie for third

4a : to get the range on (a target) by firing over and short

b : to establish the limits of bracketed the problem neatly

c : to take photographs of at more than one exposure in order to ensure that the desired exposure is obtained

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bracket

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Examples of bracket in a Sentence

Noun

The shelf is held up with two brackets. There are wall brackets in the garage for the rakes and shovels. She is taller than average for her age bracket. He earned enough to put him in a higher tax bracket. She is now in a lower income bracket than before.

Verb

I wouldn't exactly bracket your paintings with those of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With a loss the Jazz, the Magic would play only one more summer league game — a consolation-bracket game late Friday afternoon in Las Vegas — bringing the Magic’s total of summer league games up to five. — Josh Robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Magic will hold Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac out from Thursday's game," 13 July 2018 The survivor of that last loser’s bracket game will clinch the second South Zone Tournament berth. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Mustang all-stars open Coast Region play against Vidor squad," 4 July 2018 All will lip sync for their lives in a bracket-style battle before RuPaul crowns a winner. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 Queens Join Season 10 Cast for Epic Finale Lip Sync," 28 June 2018 Once all 16 in the round of 16 are in place, the competition pivots to single elimination, bracket style, like March Madness. — Bloomberg.com, "A Guide to the World Cup When You Know Nothing About Soccer," 26 June 2018 Players and teams advance or are eliminated in a bracket-style competition. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Everything You Need to Know About Wimbledon 2018—Including How to Watch," 21 June 2018 The Friday schedule will be pool-play games and the Saturday games will be bracket games. — Indianapolis Star, "Charlie Hughes Shootout set for Friday, Saturday at three area sites," 15 June 2018 Fans will vote for their favorite in a bracket-style tournament consisting of three rounds on MTV's Instagram Stories. — Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, "MTV Movie & TV Awards Reveals Best Musical Moment Nominees (Exclusive)," 11 June 2018 The Tigers lost to Oregon State 14-1 in a winners' bracket game late Saturday. — Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com, "LSU vs. Oregon State, NCAA regional baseball tournament: how to watch, live stream (June 3)," 4 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The mystery is bracketed by another quirk: Oddly specific order sizes—many going out to five decimal points, with some repeating frequently. — Matthew Leising, Bloomberg.com, "Crypto Coin Tether Defies Logic on Kraken’s Market, Raising Red Flags," 29 June 2018 On the island’s southwestern face, the Capella hotel is bracketed by Universal Studios Singapore and two golf courses. — Richard C. Paddock, New York Times, "Tightly Guarded, Singapore Battens Down for a Summit Meeting," 8 June 2018 NCAA Division III Championship brackets Some early matches include: Mount Union's Nick Mancini (24-2) is the No. — Branson Wright, cleveland.com, "NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships brackets set," 12 June 2017 Payton’s strong solos on piano and trumpet bracketed an extended bass solo by Spalding that was especially energetic, impassioned, and adept, Carrington accenting her partners’ work throughout with brilliant freestyle drumming. — Bill Beuttler, BostonGlobe.com, "A lot of love in the air as the TEN Trio grooves at Scullers," 1 July 2018 Maeda did not start either of the two games against Oakland earlier this week, a series bracketed by two off days. — Andy Mccullough, latimes.com, "Early struggles doom Dodgers," 14 Apr. 2018 Several taller buildings bracket the site, and the Boston Planning & Development Agency recently approved a 32-story tower atop the Huntington Theatre, one block to the west. — Tim Logan, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston’s retro-style MidTown Hotel may give way to development," 14 June 2018 The Griswold Wolverine softball team battled its way through the state Class M tournament bracket all the way to the championship finals, before falling to St. Joseph of Trumbull in a 5-2 loss June 9 in West Haven. — Janice Steinhagen, Courant Community, "Griswold State Class M Softball Runnerup," 11 June 2018 Marshall’s many successes bracketed one notable failure. — New York Times, "A Marshall Plan for China? It Existed, but Even Marshall Couldn’t Pull It Off," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bracket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.