bring

[bring]

verb (used with object)

brought, bringing 

1. to carry, convey, conduct, or cause (someone or something) to come with, to, or toward the speaker.

   Bring the suitcase to my house.

   He brought his brother to my office.

   Synonyms: guide, lead, transport

2. to cause to come to or toward oneself; attract.

   Her scream brought the police.

   He brought honor to his family by his heroism.

3. to cause to occur or exist.

   The medication brought instant relief.

4. to cause to come into a particular position, state, or effect.

   to bring the car to a stop.

5. to cause to appear or occur in the mind; evoke or recall.

   The letter brought her memories of youth.

6. to persuade, convince, compel, or induce.

   She couldn't bring herself to sell the painting.

7. to sell for; fetch.

   These lamps will bring a good price.

8. Law.,  to commence.

   to bring an action for damages.

verb phrase

1. bring off,  to accomplish, carry out, or achieve (something).

   He brought off his speech with ease.

2. bring forward

   1. to bring to view; show.

   2. to present for consideration; adduce.

      to bring forward an opinion.

3. bring down

   1. to injure, capture, or kill.

      He brought down several ducks on his last hunting trip.

   2. to lessen; reduce.

      I won't buy that lamp unless they bring down the price.

   3. Slang.,  to cause to be in low spirits; depress.

      The bad news brought him down.

4. bring up

   1. to care for during childhood; rear.

   2. to introduce or mention for attention, discussion, action, or consideration.

   3. to vomit.

   4. to stop or cause to stop quickly.

      to bring up a car at the curb.

   5. Nautical.,  (of a vessel) to cause to halt, as by lowering an anchor or running aground; fetch up.

5. bring forth

   1. to give birth to; deliver; bear.

      to bring forth a son.

   2. to give rise to; introduce.

      to bring forth a proposal for reducing costs.

6. bring to

   1. to bring back to consciousness; revive.

   2. Nautical.,  to head (a vessel) close to or into the wind so as to halt.

7. bring on

   1. to cause to happen or exist; bring about.

      This incident will surely bring on a crisis.

   2. to introduce; cause to appear.

      Bring on the clowns.

8. bring in

   1. to yield, as profits or income.

      My part-time job doesn't bring in much, but I enjoy it.

   2. to present officially; submit.

      The jury brought in its verdict.

   3. to cause to operate or yield.

      They brought in a gusher on his property.

   4. to present for consideration, approval, etc.; introduce.

      She brought in six new members last month.

9. bring out

   1. to expose; reveal.

   2. to make noticeable or conspicuous in a contrast.

   3. to publish, as a book or play.

   4. to introduce officially into society.

      to bring out a debutante.

10. bring about,  to accomplish; cause.

    Land reform brought about a great change in the lives of the common people.

11. bring around / round

    1. to convince of a belief or opinion; persuade.

       I think we can bring him around to agreeing with the plan.

    2. to restore to consciousness, as after a faint.

    3. to bring as a visitor.

       They brought around a new employee this morning.

bring

/ brɪŋ /

verb

1. to carry, convey, or take (something or someone) to a designated place or person

   bring that book to me

   will you bring Jessica to Tom's party?

2. to cause to happen or occur to (oneself or another)

   to bring disrespect on oneself

3. to cause to happen as a consequence

   responsibility brings maturity

4. to cause to come to mind

   it brought back memories

5. to cause to be in a certain state, position, etc

   the punch brought him to his knees

6. to force, persuade, or make (oneself)

   I couldn't bring myself to do it

7. to sell for; fetch

   the painting brought 20 pounds

8. law

   1. to institute (proceedings, charges, etc)

   2. to put (evidence, etc) before a tribunal

9. to give birth to

10. 1. to convince of

       his account brought home to us the gravity of the situation

    2. to place the blame on

11. See bear 1

Other Word Forms

• bringer noun
• outbring verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bring¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English bringen, Old English bringan; cognate with Dutch brengen, German bringen, Gothic briggan

Word History and Origins

Origin of bring¹

Old English bringan ; related to Gothic briggan , Old High German bringan

Synonym Study

Bring, fetch, take imply conveying or conducting in relation to the place where the speaker is. To bring is simply to convey or conduct: Bring it to me. I'm permitted to bring my dog here with me. It is the opposite of take, which means to convey or conduct away from the place where the speaker is: Bring it back here. Take it back there. Fetch means to go, get, and bring back: Fetch me that bottle.

Example Sentences

Zappa brought the duo into his Mothers of Invention ensemble not long after the implosion of the Turtles.

From Los Angeles Times

Nevada also joined the group this week, bringing the total number of members to thirteen.

From Los Angeles Times

"I think ourselves, Greece and Denmark can fight it out. Belarus are in there with the capability to bring a surprise on somebody. We just hope it's not us."

From BBC

Boone said they noticed the color of the bat earlier in the series and brought it up to the league officials on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

Suddenly he is functionally better equipped to survive than the humans who brought him along.

From Salon

Related Words

• begin 
• contribute to www.thesaurus.com
• create 
• force 
• lead 
• make 
• move 
• produce 
• prompt