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

The most intriguing first-round matchup in either the men's or women's bracket involves the other Williams sister: Venus, 39, will take on 15-year-old American Coco Gauff, the youngest qualifier at the All England Club in the half-century Open era. — sun-sentinel.com, "Wimbledon draw: Federer, Nadal could meet in semifinals," 28 June 2019 Maximum savers While few can afford to save the maximum in their 401(k) plan, which is $19,000 in 2019, for those in the top tax bracket, saving $19,000 after-tax is equivalent to saving more than $24,000 pre-tax. — Michael J. Francis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "401K Advisor: Saving in a Roth account may be a better choice for 401(k) participants," 28 June 2019 Familiar faces in Division II Four area schools will partake in the 32-team Division II bracket, and three are making a familiar trip down Highway 21 to College Station. — Alex Miller, ExpressNews.com, "Brandeis, O’Connor headline nine area schools playing in state 7-on-7 tournament," 24 June 2019 The country is short 7 million homes for extremely low-income renters, meaning there are just 37 affordable homes for every 100 households in that income bracket. — Marisa Kendall, The Mercury News, "These are the most expensive counties in the U.S. to rent. Hint: they’re all in the Bay Area," 18 June 2019 Not that many years ago, David Crosby would have been a top seed in any bracket of ’60s rockers least likely to still be breathing, let alone rocking, in 2019. — Washington Post, "David Crosby, still helplessly hoping at age 77, reprises a lifetime of anthems at the Birchmere," 5 June 2019 Next up in the bracket-busting South: the regional final against No. — CBS News, "March Madness: Loyola upsets Nevada, Kansas State holds off Kentucky," 23 Mar. 2018 Plus, a look at the business of march madness and a bracket-busting weekend on the road to the sweet sixteen. — Bloomberg.com, "Bloomberg Best: From Our Bureaus Worldwide - March 19 (Audio)," 19 Mar. 2018 Evans said of Virginia’s loss, in a terse articulation of a reality that often gets lost in the moments after bracket-busting giant-slayings. — Chris Johnson, SI.com, "Cincinnati's Path to Advance Seems More Open, but Bearcats Aren't Drinking From That Cup," 17 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This period, known as the Cambrian explosion, roughly bracketed the appearance of nearly all major animal groups alive today. — Quanta Magazine, "Rapid Oxygen Changes Fueled an Explosion in Ancient Animal Diversity," 9 May 2019 Then, too, each of the two bars at Infinity is bracketed by a huge pair of pink neon phalluses, which glow in the night like homosexual icons. — Sally Helgesen, Harper's magazine, "Shadow Dancing," 10 June 2019 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

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.