bray

verb \ ˈbrā \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of bray

intransitive verb

: to utter the characteristic loud harsh cry of a donkey

a braying donkey

; also : to utter a sound like a donkey's

bray with laughter

transitive verb

: to utter or play loudly or harshly

"I'm the best!" he brayed.

—

bray

noun

Recent Examples of bray from the Web

Ichiro proved those people to be braying morons, spraying 242 hits en route to Rookie of the Year honors and his fourth MVP award as a professional.

— jay willis, GQ, "The press release is layered in so much stilted, sanitized corporatespeak," 4 May 2018
Other women were pulled onto the laps of braying guests and had men’s hands reaching under their skirts.

— Washington Post, "Britain’s Theresa May ‘appalled’ by lewd men-only charity event," 25 Jan. 2018
By the time Oasis came braying out of Manchester, the sibling rock band feud was a trope that had spanned decades: from the brothers Davies in the Kinks to the brothers Robinson in the Black Crowes.

— andrew dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Loving dinosaurs and Noel Gallagher," 28 Feb. 2018
During the 2016 campaign, no group brayed louder about identity politics than the Baby Boomers.

— joshua mitchell, National Review, "The Identity-Politics Death Grip," 26 Oct. 2017
Pittsburgh's offense has been sputtery entering this Sunday prime-timer, ranking 30th in red-zone efficiency, and now deals with the controversy over benched WR Martavis Bryant braying for a trade.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Top game, big upset lead our parade of NFL Week 8 picks | Miami Herald," 26 Oct. 2017
What will count in the ensuing cacophony isn’t intelligence or expertise, but noise, with superlatives and exclamation points braying loudest and therefore replacing mixed and nuanced assessments.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Renaissance's 'Sex With Strangers' dissects a seduction," 22 Oct. 2017
For once he is allowed to listen and learn rather than to bray through his own turmoil.

— rachel syme, New Republic, "Bojack Horseman’s Fourth Season Is A Masterwork of Sadness," 11 Sep. 2017
Back then nothing signaled success like braying into a first-generation Motorola while sipping some cloudy, rare sake.

— patric kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, "How L.A.’s Most Influential Sushi Chef Redefined Japanese Food," 25 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of bray

Middle English, from Anglo-French braire to cry, bellow, roar, from Vulgar Latin *bragere, of Celt origin; akin to Old Irish braigid he breaks wind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year