1
: keenly alert : lively
… a brisk old lady with no nonsense about her …—
Jean Stafford
Jean Stafford2
a
: pleasingly tangy
brisk tea
b
: fresh, invigorating
a brisk autumn day
3
: sharp in tone or manner
was very brisk on the phone
briskly
adverb
briskness
noun
brisked; brisking; brisks
: to make animated, energetic, or marked by much activity : to make brisk
: to become brisk
—usually used with up
business brisked up
Examples of brisk in a Sentence
Adjective
She answered the phone in a brisk voice.
They went for a brisk walk in the woods.
She walked at a brisk pace.
Business is brisk at the store.
There is a brisk market in old movie posters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
While the latest fusillade of ambiguity couldn’t have come at a worse time for the advertising market—brands have yet to register their budgets for the 2026-27 upfront bazaar, in which they’re expected to commit to some $17 billion in broadcast and cable inventory—early sports sales remain brisk.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Expect plenty of sunshine and a brisk northwest wind with gusts reaching 25 to 30 mph along Marin and Sonoma ridgelines during the afternoon.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Business was brisk on two days The Times observed, and the waiting times were generally only a few minutes.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brisk
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Adjective
In 40 minutes against Gotham FC on a sunny but brisk Saturday afternoon at CPKC Stadium, Chawinga — the two-time reigning MVP of the National Women’s Soccer League — saw just 10 touches.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
While the latest fusillade of ambiguity couldn’t have come at a worse time for the advertising market—brands have yet to register their budgets for the 2026-27 upfront bazaar, in which they’re expected to commit to some $17 billion in broadcast and cable inventory—early sports sales remain brisk.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Expect plenty of sunshine and a brisk northwest wind with gusts reaching 25 to 30 mph along Marin and Sonoma ridgelines during the afternoon.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Business was brisk on two days The Times observed, and the waiting times were generally only a few minutes.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brisk
Cite this Entry
“Brisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brisk. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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