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
Synonyms
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 WebUSA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
For starters, pack some comfortable shoes and layers (even the hottest of summer days come with a brisk night).
—Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Director Rachel Chavkin keeps things moving at a brisk pace, covering some 60 years in the artist’s life, though as with most biographical works of fiction, a tighter scope would’ve worked wonders.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Opt for light- or moderate-intensity activities, such as yoga or brisk walking.4
Limits availability of workout classes: The morning may offer more access to group workouts.
—Gabrielle Kassel, Health, 14 Apr. 2024
Confidence: Medium-High A look ahead At last, skies quickly clear on Saturday morning, but breezes remain brisk.
—David Streit, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Directed with polished competence by TV episodic veteran Terry McDonough, this watchable but forgettable thriller runs a brisk gamut from the uninspired to the implausible.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
The zip front keeps the jacket secure and in place while out and about and the elasticized sleeve cuffs keep out the brisk air.
—Casey Clark, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024
Regular exercise such as brisk walking re-calibrates a fatigued brain and reduces your risk of developing anxiety by almost 60%.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023
As in all Taycans, a two-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle enables brisk off-the-line acceleration and more efficient high-speed cruising.
—Nelson Ireson, Car and Driver, 27 Apr. 2021
THE VIBE IS: brisk and professional, if borderline chaotic.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit, 13 Apr. 2017
Adjective
On this brisk February night, Alalkawi again climbed into his 2012 Honda Civic and set off toward the pizza shop.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
For starters, pack some comfortable shoes and layers (even the hottest of summer days come with a brisk night).
—Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Director Rachel Chavkin keeps things moving at a brisk pace, covering some 60 years in the artist’s life, though as with most biographical works of fiction, a tighter scope would’ve worked wonders.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Opt for light- or moderate-intensity activities, such as yoga or brisk walking.4
Limits availability of workout classes: The morning may offer more access to group workouts.
—Gabrielle Kassel, Health, 14 Apr. 2024
Confidence: Medium-High A look ahead At last, skies quickly clear on Saturday morning, but breezes remain brisk.
—David Streit, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Directed with polished competence by TV episodic veteran Terry McDonough, this watchable but forgettable thriller runs a brisk gamut from the uninspired to the implausible.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
The zip front keeps the jacket secure and in place while out and about and the elasticized sleeve cuffs keep out the brisk air.
—Casey Clark, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024
Regular exercise such as brisk walking re-calibrates a fatigued brain and reduces your risk of developing anxiety by almost 60%.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
The flag and the extreme shift in my environment from humid deep-summer East Coast to brisk and cool saltwater breezes carrying the promise and vague threat of glaciers seemed to confirm it.
—Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023
As in all Taycans, a two-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle enables brisk off-the-line acceleration and more efficient high-speed cruising.
—Nelson Ireson, Car and Driver, 27 Apr. 2021
THE VIBE IS: brisk and professional, if borderline chaotic.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit, 13 Apr. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brisk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near brisk
Cite this Entry
“Brisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brisk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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