Bring — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈbriŋ/

Meaning & Definition of Bring

Bring (verb)

  1. to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded
  2. to cause to be, act, or move in a special way
  3. attract

Bring (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

    "in the end, the lawsuit brought distress to everyone, including the plaintiff"

    similar: beget, breed, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, bring forth, give rise to
    related: conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render, turn out
    near: impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can (slang), kill, snuff (out), still, abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

  2. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request

    "nothing will ever bring her to admit she's wrong"

    similar: argue, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

  3. to have a price of

    "the antique will probably bring at least $1000 at auction"

    similar: cost, fetch, go (for), run, sell (for)
    related: list (for), amount (to), come (to), total, command, exact, ask, demand

Related Entry: Bring about (verb)

Bring about is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring about, not for bring.

  1. to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

    "I promise: making one mistake will not bring about the apocalypse"

    similar: beget, breed, bring, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, bring forth, give rise to
    related: conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render, turn out
    near: impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can (slang), kill, snuff (out), still, abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

Related Entry: Bring around (verb)

Bring around is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring around, not for bring.

  1. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request

    "an airtight argument is the only thing that will ever bring him around"

    similar: argue, bring, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

Related Entry: Bring in (verb)

Bring in is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring in, not for bring.

  1. to receive as return for effort

    "she's bringing in good money selling houses"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Related Entry: Bring off (verb)

Bring off is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring off, not for bring.

  1. to carry through (as a process) to completion

    "the cast and crew were able to bring off an eccentric but engaging reinterpretation of King Lear"

    similar: accomplish, achieve, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, go through
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    near: fail, skimp, slight, slur

  2. to remove from danger or harm

    "had it been alerted in time, a nearby ship might have been able to bring off all of the passengers from the Titanic"

    similar: bail out, deliver, rescue, save
    related: salvage, emancipate, free, liberate, manumit, release, disentangle, extricate, recover
    opposite: adventure, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril, risk, venture

Related Entry: Bring on (verb)

Bring on is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring on, not for bring.

  1. to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

    "this legislation will surely bring on some unintended consequences"

    similar: beget, breed, bring, bring about, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, bring forth, give rise to
    related: conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render, turn out
    near: impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can (slang), kill, snuff (out), still, abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

Related Entry: Bring out (verb)

Bring out is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring out, not for bring.

  1. to express (a thought or emotion) in words

    "he ever so casually brings out the names of celebrities with whom he's supposedly buddy-buddy"

    similar: articulate, enunciate, pass, say, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize, put into words
    related: air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice, blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot, advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper, clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word, comment, pipe up (with), remark, rip (out), snarl
    near: stifle, suppress

  2. to make more apparent

    "a blue scarf would bring out the color of your eyes"

    similar: accentuate, emphasize, italicize, stress, underline, underscore
    related: amplify, beef (up), boost, reinforce, strengthen, augment, deepen, enhance, enlarge, heighten, magnify, maximize, supplement, enliven, jazz (up)
    opposite: de-emphasize
    near: decrease, diminish, lessen, minimize, reduce, subdue, tone (down), understate, weaken

Related Entry: Bring up (verb)

Bring up is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring up, not for bring.

  1. to bring to maturity through care and education

    "it takes an immense commitment and a lot of love to bring up a child properly"

    similar: breed, foster, nourish, nurse, raise, rear
    related: father, mother, attend, care (for), cradle, cultivate, mind, minister (to), nurture, watch, discipline, educate, instruct, mentor, school, teach, train, tutor, edify, enlighten, indoctrinate, feed, provide (for), supply, advance, forward, further, promote, prepare, direct, guide, lead, shepherd, show
    near: abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mishandle, mistreat, ignore, neglect, harm, hurt, injure

  2. to present or bring forward for discussion

    "I hate to bring this up, but we're running short of money"

    similar: broach, introduce, moot, place, raise
    related: allude (to), cite, mention, name, refer (to), offer, propose, suggest, air, express, speak (of), talk (about), vent, ventilate, interject, interrupt, debate, discuss, thrash (out or over)
    near: censor, hush (up), quiet, silence, suppress

  3. to bring (something) to a standstill

    "wasn't expecting the operator to bring up the carnival ride so suddenly"

    similar: arrest, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, hold up, pull up, stall, stay, still, stop
    related: baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, end, terminate, call, discontinue, suspend, choke off, rein (in), repress, squash, squelch, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend, actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir

Related Entry: Bring forth (phrase)

Bring forth is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring forth, not for bring.

  1. to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

    "His poetry brings forth an emotional response in many readers."

    similar: beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, give rise to
    related: conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render, turn out
    near: impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can (slang), kill, snuff (out), still, abolish, demolish, destroy, extinguish, liquidate, quench

  2. to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort

    "The spring rain brought forth an abundance of lush greenery."

    similar: carve (out), develop, forge, grind (out), hammer out, thrash (out), work out, work up
    related: churn out, crank out, turn out, cobble (together or up), throw up, compose, construct, craft, create, engineer, fabricate, fashion, form, frame, generate, manufacture, mint, model, shape, tailor, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), devise, hatch, invent, originate, accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry out, effect
    near: demolish, destroy, dismantle, raze, tear down, ruin, undo, unmake, wreck

Related Entry: Bring to account (phrase)

Bring to account is a different word from Bring. The synonyms below are for bring to account, not for bring.

  1. to express public or formal disapproval of

    "The treasurer was brought to account in front of the whole town."

    similar: censure, condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, call to account
    related: admonish, chastise, castigate, punish, bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid, belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage
    opposite: cite, commend, endorse
    near: acclaim, applaud, hail, honor, eulogize, laud, praise, approve, bless, sanction

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bring

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bring:

beget, breed, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield, argue, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over), cost, fetch, go (for), run

Related Words for Bring

conduce (to), contribute (to), decide, determine, begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start, advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote, enact, render

Near Antonyms of Bring

impede, limit, restrict, clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, dampen, put down, quash, quell, repress, smother, squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, control, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain, retard, can, kill, snuff (out), still, abolish

Word Forms of Bring

Inflections: brought, bringing

Derived words: bringer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bring

Middle English, from Old English bringan; akin to Old High German bringan to bring, Welsh hebrwng to accompany

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bring

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Bring

bring about, bring around, bring down the house, bring forth, bring forward, bring home, bring down

Frequently Asked Questions about Bring

What does "Bring" mean?

"Bring" means to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded. As a verb, it is defined as: to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bring"?

Other words for "Bring" include beget, breed, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create and do. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bring" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bring"?

There are 116 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bring". Common alternatives include beget, breed, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on and effect.

How do you use "Bring" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bring" in a sentence: "in the end, the lawsuit brought distress to everyone, including the plaintiff"; "nothing will ever bring her to admit she's wrong"; "the antique will probably bring at least $1000 at auction".

Is "Bring" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bring" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Bring"?

"Bring" is pronounced /ˈbriŋ/.

What is the origin of the word "Bring"?

"Bring" comes from Middle English, from Old English bringan; akin to Old High German bringan to bring, Welsh hebrwng to accompany. First known use: before 12th centuryt.

What is another word for "Bring" meaning "to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)"?

When "Bring" (verb) means to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind), synonyms include beget, breed, bring about, bring on, catalyze and cause.