bring
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /brˈɪŋ/
US
- /ˈbrɪŋ/
Meanings
Verb
to carry or lead someone or something to a place
to cause something to happen, exist, or result
to provide or contribute something to a situation
More meaningsFewer meanings
to start a legal case, charge, or claim
to sell for or produce a particular amount of money
Beyond the definition
"Bring" seems simple enough—it's about moving something towards the speaker. Think of a dog bringing you a stick! But "bring" isn't just physical. You can bring joy to someone with a kind word, or bring a problem on yourself through carelessness. It implies an action that results in something arriving at a specific location—usually where you are. If you're going somewhere else, you "take" instead! "Bring me the remote," but "I will take this book with me."
The core idea is movement, but many uses stretch to effects and consequences. You can bring joy, trouble, shame, or even a change in mood. The common thread stays the same: the person using "bring" is connected to the destination, while "take" usually points from that location away.
The word "bring" describes the act of carrying or conveying something (or someone) to a particular place, usually where the speaker is located. It's about movement towards a destination—specifically, towards the person using the word. For example: "Could you bring your coat inside? It's starting to rain."
However, "bring" isn't limited to physical objects. You can also "bring" abstract things like happiness or trouble. "Her singing brought joy to everyone in the room," or "His reckless behavior brought shame upon his family."
The key distinction between "bring" and its close cousin, "take," is direction. We bring something here, but we take something there. Think of it this way: if you're moving away to a different location, you take; if something is coming to you, you bring.
"Bring" can also mean to cause something to happen or come into being. "The new law will bring about significant changes," means the law will cause those changes to occur. Or, "This news brings me great sadness."
So whether it's a physical object, an emotion, a consequence, or a change—if something is moving towards you, or you're causing something to come into existence, chances are "bring" is the right word.
Examples
- 1
Identification
Please bring your ID when you come tomorrow.
- 2
Everyday request
Can you bring me my phone? I left it upstairs.
- 3
Arriving together
He brought his cousin with him to dinner.
- Patternbring + person with you
come together with that person
- 4
Weather preparation
I forgot to bring an umbrella, so I got soaked on the way home.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Returning items
Can you bring the book back next week?
- Phrasebring back
return
- 6
Memories
That song always brings back memories of high school.
- Phrasebring back memories
make you remember something
- 7
Sensitive topic
I didn’t want to bring up money during lunch.
- Phrasebring up
start talking about a subject
- 8
Legal case
The new evidence could bring the whole case to an end.
- Patternbring + situation to an end
cause it to finish
- 9
Public attention
The article brings attention to a problem many people ignore.
- Patternbring attention to + issue
make people notice it
- 10
Lively conversation
Her jokes always bring the conversation to life.
- Patternbring + thing to life
make it feel lively and interesting
- 11
Visit reason
What brings you to Boston this week?
- PhraseWhat brings you to + place?
why are you there?
- 12
Causing change
The policy changes brought about a big improvement in safety.
- Phrasebring about
cause something to happen
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bringverb
Forms
- broughtpast tensepast participleverb
- bringing-ing formverb
- bringsverb