bring

verb

ˈbriŋ 

brought ˈbrȯt  ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded

brought a bottle of wine to the party

b

: to cause to be, act, or move in a special way: such as

(1)

: attract

her screams brought the neighbors

(2)

: persuade, induce

try to bring them to his way of thinking

(3)

: force, compel

was brought before a judge

(4)

: to cause to come into a particular state or condition

bring water to a boil

c

dialect : escort, accompany

May I bring you home?

d

: to bear as an attribute or characteristic

brings years of experience to the position

2

: to cause to exist or occur: such as

a

: to be the occasion of

winter brings snow

b

: to result in

the drug brought immediate relief

brought tears to her eyes

c

: institute

bring legal action

d

: adduce

bring an argument

3

: prefer

whether to bring legal charges against him

4

: to procure in exchange : sell for

should bring a high price at auction

intransitive verb

chiefly Midland US : yield, produce

bringer noun

Phrases

bring forth

1

: bear

brought forth fruit

2

: to give birth to : produce

3

: adduce

bring forth persuasive arguments

bring forward

1

: to produce to view : introduce

brought new evidence forward

2

: to carry (a total) forward

bring home

: to make unmistakably clear

brought home the importance of exercise

bring to account

1

: to bring to book

must be brought to account for her mistakes

2

: reprimand

bring to bear

: to use with effect

bring pressure to bear

bring to book

: to compel to give an account

bring to light

: disclose, reveal

bring new facts to light

bring to mind

: recall

These events bring to mind another time in history.

bring to terms

: to compel to agree, assent, or submit

bring up the rear

: to come last or behind

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• draw on
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Examples of bring in a Sentence

“Should I send you a check?” “Why not just bring me the money when you come?”

Have you brought the money with you from the bank?

She brought her boyfriend home to meet her parents.

Love of adventure brought her here before taking her to many other places.

This radio station brings you all the news as it happens.

Can anything bring peace to this troubled region?

Having a baby has brought great happiness into her life.

Recent Examples on the Web

The show officially brings all these characters into the proper Marvel Cinematic Universe. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

Bowser’s bill also calls for creating an alternative school for students with the most severe behavioral problems — such as bringing a weapon to school or hurting another student — that would be run by D.C. Public Schools. —Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

Austin smartly brought a Sharpie and asked Swift to sign his shirt. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

The obstruction of an official proceeding charge — one of the most common felony charges filed in Jan. 6 cases — has been brought against hundreds of Capitol riot defendants, many who argue that the statute was misused against them. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

The 2024 Milwaukee Film Festival brings 300 movies to seven screens in four theaters over 15 days. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Like many of the other teens in the room, she was brought by her parents, who drove down from Fresno. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Detroit Free Press Local filmmaker Razi Jafri brings his latest film to Oakland University tomorrow afternoon as part of a collaboration between the University and Freep Film Festival, the documentary film festival produced by the Detroit Free Press. —Detroit Free Press, 3 Apr. 2024

The severe storms that rumbled through the region Tuesday afternoon brought a flood of watches and warnings and a deluge of rainwater, but no widespread reports of major damage in Greater Cincinnati. —Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English bringan; akin to Old High German bringan to bring, Welsh hebrwng to accompany

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing bring

• bring a bottle
• bring a halt to
• bring back to life
• bring back
• bring a tear to someone's eye
• bring-and-buy sale
• bring a tear to one's eye
• bring out the worst in
• bring (something) to an end
• bring (something) alive
• bring (someone) to his/her knees
• bring (something) to a stop
• bring tears to one's eyes
• bring/put a stop to
• bring (something) to someone's notice
• bring (something) to life
• bring to trial
• file/bring (a) suit
• bring your own bottle
• bring up short
• take/knock/bring someone down a peg
• throw/bring into question
• bring out the best in
• bring/call/put into play
• bring out
• bring home the bacon
• bring the matter to someone's attention
• bring down the curtain on
• bring before
• bring a smile to one's lips
• bring charges against
• bring about
• bring around
• bring an end to (something)
• bring oneself
• bring to conclusion
• bring the curtain down on
• bring in
• bring to
• bring to a conclusion
• bring on
• bring to someone's attention
• bring into disrepute
• bring charges
• bring off
• bring down
• bring up
• bring forth
• bring to mind
• bring together
• bring home
• bring forward
• bring the house down
• bring down the house
• bring up the rear
• bring to terms
• bring to bear
• bring to light
• bring to account
• bring to book

Kids Definition

bring

verb

ˈbriŋ 

brought ˈbrȯt  ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ 

1

: to cause to come with oneself by carrying or leading especially to the place from which the action is viewed

bring a lunch

2

: to cause to reach a certain state or take a certain action

bring water to a boil

couldn't bring myself to say it

3

: to cause to arrive or exist

winter will bring snow

bring legal action

4

: to sell for

will bring a good price

bringer noun

Legal Definition

bring

transitive verb

ˈbriŋ 

brought ˈbrȯt  ; bringing ˈbriŋ-iŋ 

: to begin or commence (a legal proceeding) through proper legal procedure: as

a

: to put (as a lawsuit) before a court

b

: to formally assert (as a charge or indictment)

brought charges against him