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

Anthony Minghella’s 1999 movie adaptation of the novel tried determinedly to humanize him, casting Matt Damon as an insecure sad sack who’s driven to a crime of desperate passion when he’s sent to Europe to bring home—and is promptly humiliated by—Jude Law’s wealthy, callous Dickie Greenleaf. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024

These ovens are for the consumer who wants to be able to cook mostly inside but can be brought outdoors, if needed. —Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024

The system’s conditions also bring the potential for tornadoes to form in Wisconsin. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024

She was also blamed for bringing live ammunition onto the set and failing to follow safety protocols. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024

Later, on the back terrace, where the husband liked to have breakfast in good weather, the wife brought the Times to him as soon as it was delivered; the husband glanced up, smiling at her, clearly remembering nothing of the night. —Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

As part of the We, The Voters series, NPR is bringing you stories of gun violence and its impact on communities all week. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024

After a 40% increase in staff in 2021, and a 29% increase in 2022, the company posted just under a 10% growth in employees in 2023, according to company filings, bringing global staffing levels to 140,473 as of the end of last year. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

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