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
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
The Times used a brisk 141 words to describe the event and quote winner Larry Bird, who pocketed $10,000 as champ.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Although a good portion of this album still sounds like Kurt Vile going through a Sly Stone phase, the kumbaya squishiness of the past few records has hardened into a brisk antagonism.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
As sports tourism becomes a more powerful engine for travel, offering an unexpected gateway into a society and its culture, travelers can get to know India through this brisk, energetic version of our most-beloved game.
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brisk
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Adjective
Rose is a terrific story told with confidence and brisk pacing, but also a great vehicle for the astonishing Hüller.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
The Times used a brisk 141 words to describe the event and quote winner Larry Bird, who pocketed $10,000 as champ.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Although a good portion of this album still sounds like Kurt Vile going through a Sly Stone phase, the kumbaya squishiness of the past few records has hardened into a brisk antagonism.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
As sports tourism becomes a more powerful engine for travel, offering an unexpected gateway into a society and its culture, travelers can get to know India through this brisk, energetic version of our most-beloved game.
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 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 18 Feb. 2026.
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