brisk

1 of 2

adjective

Synonyms of brisk
1
: keenly alert : lively
… a brisk old lady with no nonsense about her …Jean Stafford
2
a
: pleasingly tangy
brisk tea
b
: fresh, invigorating
a brisk autumn day
3
: sharp in tone or manner
was very brisk on the phone
4
a
: energetic, quick
took a brisk walk
at a brisk pace
b
: marked by much activity
business was brisk
briskly adverb
briskness noun

brisk

2 of 2

verb

brisked; brisking; brisks

transitive verb

: to make animated, energetic, or marked by much activity : to make brisk

intransitive verb

: 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
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Adjective
The benefits were also amplified with the addition of aerobic exercise, which includes activities like brisk walking, running, swimming and cycling, the authors noted. Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 4 June 2026 The brisk, nasty chill cast by the film may prove divisive; ditto its unapologetically ghastly characters. Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 June 2026 In practice, that looks like a brisk walk, easy bike ride, light jog, swim, or rowing session. Allison Palmer updated June 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026 While the outgoing bZ4X felt sluggish, the bZ flips the script with brisk acceleration in both single- and dual-motor configurations. ABC News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brisk

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably modification of Middle French brusque

Verb

verbal derivative of brisk entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brisk was in 1560

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brisk. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

brisk

adjective
ˈbrisk
1
: very active or alert : lively
2
: very refreshing
brisk autumn weather
3
: energetic, quick
a brisk pace
briskly adverb
briskness noun

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