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
d
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
bracketed; bracketing; brackets
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
Consumer Reports2
: 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
Synonyms
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebPreston Cooper, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
So with the surrounding square rounding brackets, the expression returns to either 0 or 1.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
Through October, the number of crowdfunding campaigns on GoFundMe tied to college loans has surged nearly 40% over the last 12 months, with those seeking to raise money coming from diverse backgrounds and across all age brackets, according to data the platform shared with CBS MoneyWatch.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2023
To give your home TV setup new life, opt for a 65-percent-off soundbar, projector screen, or wall mount bracket — all under $50.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
On he other side of the bracket, No. 8 Classical Academy will face No. 5 Vista.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023
Tax brackets for 2024 income The thresholds for tax brackets will rise 5.4% from 2023 to 2024.
—Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Trending News Woman fired for helping pregnant inmate works to give back
The Air Force's new nuclear stealth bomber takes its first test flight
The IRS released its 2024 tax brackets.
—CBS News, 10 Nov. 2023
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service adjusts income tax brackets, according to a formula set by Congress.
—Tanza Loudenback, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Chris Strathmann, Hazlitt, 18 Oct. 2023
After his own cha cha with Koko Iwasaki was bracketed in the bottom three, fans voted, the judges weighed in and Walsh was walking.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2023
And Thursday morning, the Biden campaign is announcing its more direct efforts to bracket the GOP debate, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom set to play a prominent role, as NBC News reported last month.
—Mike Memoli, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023
The first of these versions is bracketed by two color blocks, one blue and the other red; these refer to color-field painting but also to the uniforms of the French and British, respectively.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 18 July 2023
The film’s production had been bracketed by the first trial in London in 2020, which denied Depp’s suit of defamation, and the second in Virginia in 2022, which Heard left the shoot in Guatemala to attend.
—John Bleasdale, Variety, 26 June 2023
The production opens and closes in 1940s London, during World War II, with air-raid sirens heard periodically in the background, bracketing a journey to the fanciful Neverland.
—Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2023
For instance, scholars know precisely where T. rex falls on the technique's branching trees, bracketed by crocodilians on one side and birds on the other.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2023
In both the boys and girls bracket its No. 2 seed South Carroll hosting No. 3 seed Francis Scott Key on Friday.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2023
See More
Noun
If rising college attainment rates make workers more productive, college should help more Americans move into higher income brackets.
—Preston Cooper, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
So with the surrounding square rounding brackets, the expression returns to either 0 or 1.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
Through October, the number of crowdfunding campaigns on GoFundMe tied to college loans has surged nearly 40% over the last 12 months, with those seeking to raise money coming from diverse backgrounds and across all age brackets, according to data the platform shared with CBS MoneyWatch.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2023
To give your home TV setup new life, opt for a 65-percent-off soundbar, projector screen, or wall mount bracket — all under $50.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
On he other side of the bracket, No. 8 Classical Academy will face No. 5 Vista.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023
Tax brackets for 2024 income The thresholds for tax brackets will rise 5.4% from 2023 to 2024.
—Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Trending News Woman fired for helping pregnant inmate works to give back
The Air Force's new nuclear stealth bomber takes its first test flight
The IRS released its 2024 tax brackets.
—CBS News, 10 Nov. 2023
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service adjusts income tax brackets, according to a formula set by Congress.
—Tanza Loudenback, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
The four eponymous chapters are bracketed by a prologue and epilogue that draw on Aviv’s own life, featuring a young woman named Hava.
—Chris Strathmann, Hazlitt, 18 Oct. 2023
After his own cha cha with Koko Iwasaki was bracketed in the bottom three, fans voted, the judges weighed in and Walsh was walking.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2023
And Thursday morning, the Biden campaign is announcing its more direct efforts to bracket the GOP debate, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom set to play a prominent role, as NBC News reported last month.
—Mike Memoli, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023
The first of these versions is bracketed by two color blocks, one blue and the other red; these refer to color-field painting but also to the uniforms of the French and British, respectively.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 18 July 2023
The film’s production had been bracketed by the first trial in London in 2020, which denied Depp’s suit of defamation, and the second in Virginia in 2022, which Heard left the shoot in Guatemala to attend.
—John Bleasdale, Variety, 26 June 2023
The production opens and closes in 1940s London, during World War II, with air-raid sirens heard periodically in the background, bracketing a journey to the fanciful Neverland.
—Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2023
For instance, scholars know precisely where T. rex falls on the technique's branching trees, bracketed by crocodilians on one side and birds on the other.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2023
In both the boys and girls bracket its No. 2 seed South Carroll hosting No. 3 seed Francis Scott Key on Friday.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bracket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing bracket
Articles Related to bracket
Dictionary Entries Near bracket
Cite this Entry
“Bracket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bracket. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
bracket
1 of 2 noun
brack·et
ˈbrak-ət 
1
: a support for a shelf or other weight usually attached to a wall
2
: a short wall shelf
3
a
: one of a pair of marks [ ] used to enclose words or mathematical symbols to be taken together
called also square bracket
b
: one of a pair of marks 〈 〉
—used to enclose written or printed matter
called also angle bracket
4
: class entry 1 sense 3a, group
especially
: one of a series of groups sorted according to income
5
: a pairing of opponents in an elimination tournament
bracket
2 of 2 verb1
: to place within or as if within brackets
2
: to put into the same class : associate
More from Merriam-Webster on 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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