brisk

1 of 2

adjective

1
: keenly alert : lively
a brisk old lady with no nonsense about herJean 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Examples include moderate or brisk walking, water aerobics, doubles tennis, slow cycling, or ballroom dancing. Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2025 Kansas City's brisk temperatures hovered in the low 50s as the red-and-gold looked to extend its winning record. Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 Research shows a preventative effect on ovarian cancer when people undergo at least two hours of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) per week and less than three hours of sitting per day. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2025 Temperatures will also be brisk in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, reaching only the 30s and 40s later in the day, The Weather Channel reported. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 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 30 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on brisk

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