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

By 2025, this gap between the old and new brackets is projected to be $10,325. — WSJ, "WSJ Tax Guide 2019: Tax Rates and Brackets," 15 Feb. 2019 The Bulls advanced to the winners bracket of the NBA Summer League tournament and play the Pistons at 6 p.m Saturday. — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Ex-teammates Jalen Brunson and Ryan Arcidiacono square off in NBA Summer League while dismissing their doubters," 11 July 2018 Even a loss by their second-stringers against Belgium in the final group game had a silver lining: finishing second in the group placed England in what is clearly the easier half of the knockout-round bracket. — Andrew Das, New York Times, "England Shakes Its Shootout Curse and Saves Its World Cup," 5 July 2018 After becoming president, Reagan was instrumental in a sharp cut in the top bracket. — Laura Saunders, WSJ, "How Wealthy Americans Like Jack Benny Avoided Paying a 70% Tax Rate," 18 Jan. 2019 North Springs opened state play with a 7-2 win over West Melbourne and followed that up with a 14-4 victory over Bonita Springs/San Carlos to set up a winner-take-all game against the other 2-0 team in the bracket. — Gary Curreri, Sun-Sentinel.com, "North Springs Little League Senior Division All-Stars capture state title," 10 July 2018 Now in the loser’s bracket, the Bulls know this feeling all too well. — Brian Murphy, OrlandoSentinel.com, "USF struggles through opening loss to Oklahoma State in DeLand Regional," 1 June 2018 Junior Ethan Park and sophomore Ben Riad won two matches in the front draw and three in the consolation bracket. — Jon J. Kerr, chicagotribune.com, "Boys tennis notes: New Trier ties for second at state meet," 29 May 2018 UConn turns to another lefty, junior Chase Gardner, to start the second game on Wednesday, in the winners’ bracket against No. — Staff Report, courant.com, "UConn Baseball Opens AAC Tournament With 6-2 Win Over Cincinnati," 23 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

His eyes, brown as acorns, were bracketed by deepening crow’s-feet. — Richard Conniff, WSJ, "‘The Dinosaur Artist’ Review: Old Bones Are Big Business," 6 Sep. 2018 Katz brackets the sensuous fruit abstractly, with pendulous flat green shapes masked by striped columns. — Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Flattening time’s tides; a ‘Maid’ made in the shade," 30 May 2018 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

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.