bring

IPA/brɪŋ/
KK[brˈɪŋ]IPA/brɪŋ/

bring — verb

  • bringpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • bringshe / she / it
  • broughtpast simple
  • bringing-ing form

1. to take someone or something with you to the place where another person is, or t

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to take someone or something with you to the place where another person is, or to the place you are speaking from.

Example

Aiko, please bring the blue folder to my desk before lunch.

bring + object + to + person/place

Could you bring your cousin to dinner on Friday night?

bring + person to event

Common collocations
  • bring a bag
  • bring a gift
  • bring somebody home
  • bring food
  • bring me something
Synonyms
  • take

    used when the movement is away from the speaker or current place

  • carry

    focuses on holding and moving something, not the direction toward here

  • fetch

    includes going to get something and coming back with it

  • deliver

    more formal and often used for planned or professional transport

Antonyms
  • take

    opposite direction from the speaker or destination in focus

  • remove

    emphasizes moving something away from a place

Grammar Patterns

bring somebody something

bring something to somebody

bring somebody/something to + place

Usage Note

Often used with two objects, as in 'bring me the file', or with 'to' before the destination. Distinguish it from 'take': use 'bring' when the movement is toward the speaker or the destination now in focus.

Common Mistakes

Please take your passport here tomorrow.
Please bring your passport here tomorrow.
use 'bring' when the movement is toward the speaker.
Rina brought to me some tea.
Rina brought me some tea.
the two-object pattern usually does not need 'to' before the person.

2. to make something happen, or to create a result such as help, change, trouble, o

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to make something happen, or to create a result such as help, change, trouble, or relief.

Example

The new bus line brought jobs and visitors to the town.

bring + jobs/change/results

One weak password can bring serious trouble for your whole team.

Common collocations
  • bring change
  • bring relief
  • bring trouble
  • bring pressure
  • bring growth
Synonyms
  • cause

    more neutral and often used in formal explanation

  • create

    often used for results people actively make, not just events they trigger

  • produce

    slightly more formal and common in reports

  • lead to

    focuses on the result that follows, rather than naming it as the object

Antonyms
  • prevent

    stops a result from happening

  • avoid

    keeps a bad result from arising

Grammar Patterns

bring + result

bring + result + to + somebody/somewhere

bring + noun phrase

Usage Note

The object is usually an abstract result such as change, relief, trouble, growth, or pressure. Distinguish this sense from sense 3: here the result itself is named directly, rather than a final state shown with 'to' or 'into'.

Common Mistakes

The new law brought to many problems.
The new law brought many problems.
this sense takes the result directly as the object.

3. to make someone or something reach a new condition or position, often with words

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make someone or something reach a new condition or position, often with words like 'to', 'into', 'back', or 'down'.

Example

The loud bell brought the children to a sudden stop.

bring somebody/something to + state

Weeks of rest brought Nora back to full strength.

bring + back to + condition

Common collocations
  • bring to life
  • bring to a stop
  • bring back to normal
  • bring into focus
  • bring down
Synonyms
  • put

    more general and often more physical

  • move

    focuses on position, not the resulting condition

  • drive

    often suggests pressure or force

  • restore

    used when something returns to an earlier good state

Antonyms
  • keep

    means not allowing a change of state or position

Grammar Patterns

bring somebody/something to + state

bring somebody/something into + state/place

bring somebody/something + adverb/preposition

Usage Note

This sense is common with 'to', 'into', and direction words like 'back' or 'down'. Distinguish it from sense 2 by looking for the end state or position after the verb.

Common Mistakes

The news brought him in tears.
The news brought him to tears.
the new state is usually shown by 'to' or 'into'.

4. to formally put a case, charge, or claim before a court or other authority.

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to formally put a case, charge, or claim before a court or other authority.

Example

The workers brought a claim against the factory after the fire.

bring a claim against somebody

State lawyers brought charges against two bank managers yesterday.

bring charges against somebody

Common collocations
  • bring a claim
  • bring charges
  • bring a case
  • bring legal action
  • bring a lawsuit
Synonyms
  • file

    common in legal and administrative contexts for officially starting a case

  • launch

    can be used for legal action, but is broader and less technical

  • initiate

    formal word for beginning a process

Antonyms
  • withdraw

    remove a case, claim, or charge after starting it

  • drop

    more informal word for deciding not to continue

Grammar Patterns

bring a case against somebody

bring charges against somebody

bring a case before a court

Usage Note

The object is usually 'a case', 'a claim', 'charges', or 'legal action'. This sense belongs to legal and official contexts, not ordinary arguments or complaints.

Common Mistakes

The company brought against him a lawsuit.
The company brought a lawsuit against him.
the legal object comes before 'against'.

5. to introduce the next topic or point in a speech, meeting, or written argument.

5.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to introduce the next topic or point in a speech, meeting, or written argument.

Example

At the end, the meeting leader brought the discussion to next year's budget.

bring the discussion to + topic

After two stories, Professor Imani brought the audience to her main question.

bring somebody to + point

Common collocations
  • bring the discussion to
  • bring readers to
  • bring somebody to a point
  • bring the conversation to
  • bring the class to
Synonyms
  • introduce

    neutral word for presenting a new topic or idea

  • move to

    less formal and common in meetings or classes

  • turn to

    focuses on shifting attention to the next subject

  • advance

    formal and often used for arguments or proposals

Antonyms
  • return to

    go back to an earlier point instead of moving on

Grammar Patterns

bring the discussion to + topic

bring somebody to + point

bring readers/listeners to + issue

Usage Note

Mostly found in formal speaking or writing. The object is often 'discussion', 'reader', 'speaker', or another person being guided to the next point.

Common Mistakes

The report brought the safety issue.
The report brought readers to the safety issue.
this use normally shows who is being led to the next point.

6. if something brings a particular amount, it sells for that price or earns that a

6.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

if something brings a particular amount, it sells for that price or earns that amount of money.

Example

The old watch brought $300 at the Sunday market.

item + brings + amount

Her first painting brought much less than she expected.

Common collocations
  • bring $500
  • bring a high price
  • bring good money
  • bring less than expected
  • bring enough to pay rent
Synonyms
  • sell for

    used when the focus is the price of a sold item

  • fetch

    common in auction and market language

  • earn

    more natural for businesses or regular income

  • make

    informal and common for money earned

Antonyms
  • cost

    shows the buyer's price, not the seller's return

  • lose

    describes money going away rather than coming in

Grammar Patterns

[item] + brings + amount

[item] + brings + price

[business] + brings + amount

Usage Note

The subject is usually a product, a work of art, a house, or a business. The amount follows directly after the verb, and the sentence often appears in sales, auction, or business contexts.

Common Mistakes

The table was brought for $500.
The table brought $500.
in this sense, the item itself is the subject in an active sentence.
Phrasal verbs

bring A and B together

phrasal verb

To help two people or groups become friends or work together.

The new project brought the two departments together.

A shared love of music brought Sara and Diego together.

bring about

phrasal verb

To cause something to happen.

The new law brought about many changes in the city.

What brought about your decision to move to Japan?

bring around

phrasal verb

To persuade someone to agree with your opinion.

After a long discussion, we finally brought him around.

Can you bring the committee around to our point of view?

bring around to

phrasal verb

To persuade someone to accept a particular idea or plan.

She brought her parents around to her way of thinking.

We need to bring the boss around to our proposal.

bring back

phrasal verb

To return something to where it came from or make something popular again.

Please bring back the books to the library by Friday.

The singer wants to bring back the style of the 1980s.

bring before

phrasal verb

To present someone or something to an official group for judgment.

The case was brought before the court last week.

The committee brought the proposal before the board.

bring down

phrasal verb

To make someone or something fall or lose power.

The scandal brought down the government.

A sudden illness brought down the star player.

bring forth

phrasal verb

To produce something or make it appear.

The tree brought forth beautiful flowers in spring.

Her research brought forth new evidence.

bring forward

phrasal verb

To move something to an earlier time or date.

The meeting was brought forward to Monday.

Can we bring forward the deadline by one week?

bring in

phrasal verb

To earn money or to introduce someone or something new.

The new product brought in a lot of profit.

They brought in an expert to solve the problem.

bring off

phrasal verb

To succeed in doing something difficult.

The team brought off a surprising victory.

Did you bring off the deal with the client?

bring on

phrasal verb

To cause something to happen or start.

The cold weather brought on her cough.

Stress can bring on a headache.

bring out

phrasal verb

To make something appear or become noticeable.

The spice brings out the flavor of the dish.

A good teacher brings out the best in students.

bring out in

phrasal verb

To cause someone to develop a particular quality or reaction.

The challenge brought out the leader in him.

That song always brings out the dancer in her.

bring out of himself, herself, etc.

phrasal verb

To help someone become more confident and sociable.

The drama club brought her out of her shell.

Traveling brought him out of himself.

bring round

phrasal verb

To make someone become conscious again after fainting.

The doctor brought the patient round with smelling salts.

Cold water on her face brought her round.

bring round to

phrasal verb

To persuade someone to accept a different opinion or plan.

We finally brought him round to our idea.

Can you bring the team round to the new schedule?

bring to

phrasal verb

To make someone become conscious again after being unconscious.

The paramedics brought the injured man to.

A glass of water brought her to after she fainted.

bring up

phrasal verb

To raise a child or to mention a topic in conversation.

She was brought up in a small town.

He brought up the issue during the meeting.

bring up against

phrasal verb

To cause someone to face a problem or opposition.

His actions brought him up against the law.

The new policy brought the company up against strong criticism.

Idioms

bring it

idiom

To try very hard and do something very well.

The team really brought it in the final match.

Did you bring it during your presentation yesterday?

bring it on!

idiom

Used to show that you are ready and eager to face a challenge.

When the coach said the next game would be tough, Mia shouted, "Bring it on!"

The other team thinks they can beat us? Bring it on!

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For sense 1, 'bring' is chosen when something moves toward the speaker, listener, or destination now in focus. 'Take' usually points the other way: you take a bag from home to school, but bring it into the classroom. 'Carry' focuses on holding and moving the thing, without the strong idea of movement toward here. 'Deliver' is more formal and often suggests a planned or professional arrival, such as parcels or mail. 'Fetch' includes two stages: going to get something and returning with it. A useful memory line is 'bring here, take there'. You might bring soup to your sick neighbor, carry it carefully upstairs, or ask a driver to deliver it before noon.

bring ↗take ↗carry ↗deliver ↗fetch ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • bring somebody something
  • bring something to somebody

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

Modern 'bring' continues Old English 'bringan', a Germanic verb connected with the idea of carrying or leading something here. Related forms appear in other Germanic languages as well. Over time, English kept the core meaning of movement toward a person, place, or result, while the past form developed into 'brought'.