Brisk — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈbrisk/

Meaning & Definition of Brisk

Brisk (adjective)

  1. keenly alert, lively
  2. pleasingly tangy
  3. fresh, invigorating

Brisk (verb)

  1. to make animated, energetic, or marked by much activity, to make brisk
  2. to become brisk —usually used with up

Brisk (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having much high-spirited energy and movement

    "a brisk exercise that many athletes use to warm up"

    similar: active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, on the go
    related: dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited, high-strung, nervous, skittish
    opposite: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid
    near: indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious

  2. moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

    "moved at a brisk walk through the exhibit"

    similar: blistering, breakneck, breathless, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy, at speed (chiefly British)
    related: expeditious, prompt, ready, accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed, breathtaking, energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous, high-speed, rush, ultrafast, ultrarapid
    opposite: slow
    near: crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, sluggish, unhurried, deliberate, leisurely, measured, dilatory, late, tardy, ultraslow

  3. marked by much life, movement, or activity

    "brisk trading on the stock market"

    similar: aboil, abubble, abuzz, alive, animated, astir, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, happening, hopping, humming, kinetic, lively, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant
    related: abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging
    opposite: asleep, dead, inactive, lifeless, sleepy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Brisk

The most common words with a similar meaning to Brisk:

Chiefly British: at speed
active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, blistering, breakneck, breathless, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Brisk

Words with the opposite meaning of Brisk:

dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid, slow, asleep, sleepy

Related Words for Brisk

dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly

Near Antonyms of Brisk

indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious, crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, unhurried, deliberate

Word Forms of Brisk

Inflections: brisked, brisking, brisks

Derived words: briskly (adverb), briskness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Brisk

probably modification of Middle French brusque

First known use: 1560

Frequently Asked Questions about Brisk

What does "Brisk" mean?

"Brisk" means keenly alert, lively. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: keenly alert, lively. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Brisk"?

Other words for "Brisk" include active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky and gay. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Brisk" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Brisk"?

There are 125 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Brisk". Common alternatives include active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty and jazzy.

What is the opposite of "Brisk"?

Antonyms of "Brisk" include dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous and leaden. Near antonyms include indolent, lazy, unambitious and inert.

How do you use "Brisk" in a sentence?

Examples of "Brisk" in a sentence: "a brisk exercise that many athletes use to warm up"; "moved at a brisk walk through the exhibit"; "brisk trading on the stock market".

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

"Brisk" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Brisk"?

"Brisk" is pronounced /ˈbrisk/.

What is the origin of the word "Brisk"?

"Brisk" comes from probably modification of Middle French brusque. First known use: 1560.