bracket

noun brack·et \ ˈbra-kət \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of bracket

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

3 a : 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 3

d : brace 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

See bracket defined for English-language learners

See bracket defined for kids

Examples of bracket in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of bracket from the Web

Consolation bracket: Hastings (Neb.) d. Calumet 168-190, 203-191, 171-234, 164-143, 253-181.

— Post-Tribune, "Post-Tribune Local Scoreboard for Monday, March 26," 25 Mar. 2018
In a bracket ripe for the picking, Kentucky basketball instead became another March Madness casualty.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky basketball falls to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16," 23 Mar. 2018
In fact, American workers will spend on average of about six hours focusing on basketball during the tournament—checking brackets, watching a game online, reading coverage, and verifying team rankings, according to staffing firm OfficeTeam.

— christina austin, Fortune, "Here's How Many Billions U.S. Businesses Will Lose During March Madness," 22 Mar. 2018
Some objected to Fieldwork being in the bracket in the first place because it is based in the East Bay.

— ryan lillis, sacbee, "Vote in the second round of our Malt Madness beer bracket | The Sacramento Bee," 19 Mar. 2018
Everyone includes people who need accessibility [assistance], people from all income brackets, people that want to take leaps of faith, and people who don't.

— meredith carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Airbnb Is Finally Mainstream, But CEO Brian Chesky Wants More," 16 Mar. 2018
On the latest Too Embarrassed to Ask, SB Nation editor in chief Elena Bergeron talks about brackets, streaming apps and paying players.

— recode staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: With a subpoena, special counsel Robert Mueller brings the Russia investigation closer to President Trump," 16 Mar. 2018
If the bracket is revealed right away, the second half of the two-hour show can be anticlimactic and repetitive in terms of analysis.

— chad finn, BostonGlobe.com, "ESPN’s all-in approach to NFL free agency looks familiar," 15 Mar. 2018
Once the bracket is revealed, the fun begins immediately.

— dan greene, SI.com, "Sleepers, Snubs and Stats: 18 Things to Know About the 2018 NCAA Tournament Bracket," 12 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of bracket

perhaps from Middle French braguette codpiece, from diminutive of brague breeches, from Old Occitan braga, from Latin braca, of Celt origin — more at breech

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1574

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

bracket Synonyms

Synonyms

category, class, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank(s), rubric, set, species, tier, type;

branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety;

breed, race;

generation;

heading, label, title;

bracket

verb

Definition of bracket

transitive verb

1 a : 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

4 a : 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

See bracket defined for English-language learners

Examples of bracket in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of bracket from the Web

On the top floor, a single gallery features a convex wall that rises up and over a 33-foot peak, a kind of looming presence bracketed between two-story arched windows.

— julie v. iovine, WSJ, "Modest in Size, Not Distinction," 18 Apr. 2018
Three extremely short contemporary plays by female playwrights – drawn from Tiny Plays for Ireland, an initiative by the Irish company Fishamble – function almost as palate cleansers, bracketing the older works.

— julia m. klein, Philly.com, "'Women of Ireland': Five plays in an hour, classic and contemporary," 9 Apr. 2018
The bad karma bracket Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Buffalo thrashed Arizona, 89-68.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "Mad, Mad March: Retrievers and other underdogs have their day -- Bill Livingston," 19 Mar. 2018
The tournament will be re-bracketed after the quarterfinal round.

— christopher dabe, NOLA.com, "UNO basketball gets postseason berth, will play home game Wednesday," 2 Dec. 2017
The second theory speaks to a more practical approach by pointing out that Memorial Day and Labor Day bracketed the summer season, and therefore lighter, summery, white clothes were no longer needed.

— katie robinson, Town & Country, "7 Strange Labor Day Facts," 30 Aug. 2017
And next year, keep your eye on @RiceUniversity... — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) April 2, 2018 The Rice Owls, who went 7-24 overall last season, didn't make the March Madness bracket this year.

— lindsay ellis, Houston Chronicle, "After Villanova beats Michigan, former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says keep an eye on Rice," 3 Apr. 2018
Their activism in red states is challenging the tenets of Republican governance in which austerity for public employees is bracketed with tax breaks for private business.

— story hinckley, The Christian Science Monitor, "Surge in teacher activism challenges GOP austerity mindset," 3 Apr. 2018
Mutton chops thick enough for gray jays to nest in bracketed a wide smile.

— christopher solomon, Outside Online, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges," 22 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of bracket

1836

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

bracket Synonyms

BRACKET Defined for English Language Learners

bracket

noun

Definition of bracket for English Language Learners

: an object that is attached to a wall and used to support or hold up something (such as a shelf)
: a category that includes a certain range of incomes, ages, etc.
: either one of a pair of marks [ ] or 〈〉 used to enclose words or mathematical symbols

bracket

verb

Definition of bracket for English Language Learners

: to place (words, symbols, etc.) within brackets
: to be located at each side of (something)
: to put (two or more people or things) into the same category, group, etc.

BRACKET Defined for Kids

bracket

noun brack·et \ ˈbra-kət \

Definition of bracket for Students

1 : a support for a weight (as a shelf) that is usually attached to a wall

2 : one of a pair of marks [ ] ( square brackets ) used to enclose letters or numbers or in mathematics to enclose items to be treated together

3 : one of a pair of marks 〈〉 ( angle brackets ) used to enclose letters or numbers

4 : ¹group 1, category

an age bracket

bracket

verb

Definition of bracket for Students

bracketed; bracketing

1 : to place within brackets

2 : to put into the same class : group

Learn More about bracket

See words that rhyme with bracket Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bracket Spanish Central: Translation of bracket Nglish: Translation of bracket for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bracket for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bracket

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bracket

Definition of bracket

Examples of bracket in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of bracket

bracket Synonyms

Synonyms

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bracket

Definition of bracket

Examples of bracket in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bracket from the Web

First Known Use of bracket

bracket Synonyms

Synonyms

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BRACKET Defined for English Language Learners

bracket

Definition of bracket for English Language Learners

bracket

Definition of bracket for English Language Learners

BRACKET Defined for Kids

bracket

Definition of bracket for Students

bracket

Definition of bracket for Students

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