bring
♦♦♦ bring /br'ɪŋ/ (brings bringing brought)
1 [VERB] V n, V n, V n with adv, V n for n with adv, also V n n with adv, V n prep
If you bring someone or something with you when you come to a place, they come with you or you have them with you.
Remember to bring an apron or an old shirt to protect your clothes...
Come to my party and bring a girl with you...
Someone went upstairs and brought down a huge kettle...
My father brought home a book for me.
2 [VERB] V n with adv, V n with adv, also V n prep
If you bring something somewhere, you move it there.
Reaching into her pocket, she brought out a cigarette...
Her mother brought her hands up to her face.
3 [VERB] V n to/for n, V n n, also V n
If you bring something that someone wants or needs, you get it for them or carry it to them.
He went and poured a brandy for Dena and brought it to her...
The stewardess kindly brought me a blanket.
4 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n -ing
To bring something or someone to a place or position means to cause them to come to the place or move into that position.
I told you about what brought me here...
Edna Leitch survived a gas blast which brought her home crashing down on top of her.
5 [VERB] V n to n
If you bring something new to a place or group of people, you introduce it to that place or cause those people to hear or know about it.
...the drive to bring art to the public.
6 [VERB] V n prep, V n prep, V n with adv
To bring someone or something into a particular state or condition means to cause them to be in that state or condition.
He brought the car to a stop in front of the square...
His work as a historian brought him into conflict with the political establishment...
They have brought down income taxes.
7 [VERB] V n to/on/from n, V n to/on/from n, V to n n, V n n
If something brings a particular feeling, situation, or quality, it makes people experience it or have it.
He called on the United States to play a more effective role in bringing peace to the region...
Banks have brought trouble on themselves by lending rashly...
He brought to the job not just considerable experience but passionate enthusiasm...
Her three children brought her joy.
8 [VERB] V n, V n
If a period of time brings a particular thing, it happens during that time.
For Sandro, the new year brought disaster...
We don't know what the future will bring.
9 [VERB] V n against n, be V-ed to n
If you bring a legal action against someone or bring them to trial, you officially accuse them of doing something illegal.
He campaigned relentlessly to bring charges of corruption against former members of the government...
The ship's captain and crew may be brought to trial and even sent to prison.
10 [VERB] be V-ed to n by n, V n n
If a television or radio programme is brought to you by an organization, they make it, broadcast it, or pay for it to be made or broadcast. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use sponsor)
You're listening to Science in Action, brought to you by the BBC World Service...
We'll be bringing you all the details of the day's events.
11 [VERB] V n to n
When you are talking, you can say that something brings you to a particular point in order to indicate that you have now reached that point and are going to talk about a new subject.
And that brings us to the end of this special report from Germany.
12 [VERB] with brd-neg, V pron-refl to-inf
If you cannot bring yourself to do something, you cannot do it because you find it too upsetting, embarrassing, or disgusting.
It is all very tragic and I am afraid I just cannot bring myself to talk about it at the moment.
13
to bring something alive: see alive
to bring something to bear: see bear
to bring the house down: see house
to bring up the rear: see rearbring about
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To bring something about means to cause it to happen.
The only way they can bring about political change is by putting pressure on the country.
= causebring along
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring someone or something along, you bring them with you when you come to a place.
They brought along Laura Jane in a pram...
Dad brought a notebook along to the beach, in case he was seized by sudden inspiration.bring back
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
Something that brings back a memory makes you think about it.
Your article brought back sad memories for me...
Talking about it brought it all back.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When people bring back a practice or fashion that existed at an earlier time, they introduce it again.
The House of Commons is to debate once again whether to bring back the death penalty.
= revivebring down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When people or events bring down a government or ruler, they cause the government or ruler to lose power.
They were threatening to bring down the government by withdrawing from the ruling coalition...
His challenge to Mrs Thatcher brought her down.
= topple
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone or something brings down a person or aeroplane, they cause them to fall, usually by shooting them.
Military historians may never know what brought down the jet.bring forward
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring forward a meeting or event, you arrange for it to take place at an earlier date or time than had been planned.
He had to bring forward an 11 o'clock meeting so that he could get to the funeral on time...
= put forward
≠ put back
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring forward an argument or proposal, you state it so that people can consider it.
The Government will bring forward several proposals for legislation.
= put forwardbring in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a government or organization brings in a new law or system, they introduce it.
The government brought in a controversial law under which it could take any land it wanted.
= introduce
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Someone or something that brings in money makes it or earns it.
I have three part-time jobs, which bring in about £14,000 a year.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring in someone from outside a team or organization, you invite them to do a job or join in an activity or discussion.
The firm decided to bring in a new management team.
= call inbring off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring off something difficult, you do it successfully.
They were about to bring off an even bigger coup...
He thought his book would change society. But he didn't bring it off.
= pull offbring on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P, also V n P
If something brings on an illness, pain, or feeling, especially one that you often suffer from, it causes you to have it.
Severe shock can bring on an attack of acne...
Bob died of a heart attack, brought on by his lifestyle.bring out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a person or company brings out a new product, especially a new book or CD, they produce it and put it on sale.
A journalist all his life, he's now brought out a book.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Something that brings out a particular kind of behaviour or feeling in you causes you to show it, especially when it is something you do not normally show.
He is totally dedicated and brings out the best in his pupils.bring up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, be V-ed P to-inf, be V-ed P n
When someone brings up a child, they look after it until it is an adult. If someone has been brought up in a certain place or with certain attitudes, they grew up in that place or were taught those attitudes when they were growing up.
She brought up four children...
His grandmother and his father brought him up...
We'd been brought up to think that borrowing money was bad...
I was brought up a Methodist.
= raise
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring up a particular subject, you introduce it into a discussion or conversation.
He brought up a subject rarely raised during the course of this campaign...
Why are you bringing it up now?
= raise
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If someone brings up food or wind, food or air is forced up from their stomach through their mouth.
It's hard for the baby to bring up wind.
1 [VERB] V n, V n, V n with adv, V n for n with adv, also V n n with adv, V n prep
If you bring someone or something with you when you come to a place, they come with you or you have them with you.
Remember to bring an apron or an old shirt to protect your clothes...
Come to my party and bring a girl with you...
Someone went upstairs and brought down a huge kettle...
My father brought home a book for me.
2 [VERB] V n with adv, V n with adv, also V n prep
If you bring something somewhere, you move it there.
Reaching into her pocket, she brought out a cigarette...
Her mother brought her hands up to her face.
3 [VERB] V n to/for n, V n n, also V n
If you bring something that someone wants or needs, you get it for them or carry it to them.
He went and poured a brandy for Dena and brought it to her...
The stewardess kindly brought me a blanket.
4 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n -ing
To bring something or someone to a place or position means to cause them to come to the place or move into that position.
I told you about what brought me here...
Edna Leitch survived a gas blast which brought her home crashing down on top of her.
5 [VERB] V n to n
If you bring something new to a place or group of people, you introduce it to that place or cause those people to hear or know about it.
...the drive to bring art to the public.
6 [VERB] V n prep, V n prep, V n with adv
To bring someone or something into a particular state or condition means to cause them to be in that state or condition.
He brought the car to a stop in front of the square...
His work as a historian brought him into conflict with the political establishment...
They have brought down income taxes.
7 [VERB] V n to/on/from n, V n to/on/from n, V to n n, V n n
If something brings a particular feeling, situation, or quality, it makes people experience it or have it.
He called on the United States to play a more effective role in bringing peace to the region...
Banks have brought trouble on themselves by lending rashly...
He brought to the job not just considerable experience but passionate enthusiasm...
Her three children brought her joy.
8 [VERB] V n, V n
If a period of time brings a particular thing, it happens during that time.
For Sandro, the new year brought disaster...
We don't know what the future will bring.
9 [VERB] V n against n, be V-ed to n
If you bring a legal action against someone or bring them to trial, you officially accuse them of doing something illegal.
He campaigned relentlessly to bring charges of corruption against former members of the government...
The ship's captain and crew may be brought to trial and even sent to prison.
10 [VERB] be V-ed to n by n, V n n
If a television or radio programme is brought to you by an organization, they make it, broadcast it, or pay for it to be made or broadcast. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use sponsor)
You're listening to Science in Action, brought to you by the BBC World Service...
We'll be bringing you all the details of the day's events.
11 [VERB] V n to n
When you are talking, you can say that something brings you to a particular point in order to indicate that you have now reached that point and are going to talk about a new subject.
And that brings us to the end of this special report from Germany.
12 [VERB] with brd-neg, V pron-refl to-inf
If you cannot bring yourself to do something, you cannot do it because you find it too upsetting, embarrassing, or disgusting.
It is all very tragic and I am afraid I just cannot bring myself to talk about it at the moment.
13
to bring something alive: see alive
to bring something to bear: see bear
to bring the house down: see house
to bring up the rear: see rearbring about
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To bring something about means to cause it to happen.
The only way they can bring about political change is by putting pressure on the country.
= causebring along
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring someone or something along, you bring them with you when you come to a place.
They brought along Laura Jane in a pram...
Dad brought a notebook along to the beach, in case he was seized by sudden inspiration.bring back
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
Something that brings back a memory makes you think about it.
Your article brought back sad memories for me...
Talking about it brought it all back.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When people bring back a practice or fashion that existed at an earlier time, they introduce it again.
The House of Commons is to debate once again whether to bring back the death penalty.
= revivebring down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When people or events bring down a government or ruler, they cause the government or ruler to lose power.
They were threatening to bring down the government by withdrawing from the ruling coalition...
His challenge to Mrs Thatcher brought her down.
= topple
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone or something brings down a person or aeroplane, they cause them to fall, usually by shooting them.
Military historians may never know what brought down the jet.bring forward
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring forward a meeting or event, you arrange for it to take place at an earlier date or time than had been planned.
He had to bring forward an 11 o'clock meeting so that he could get to the funeral on time...
= put forward
≠ put back
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring forward an argument or proposal, you state it so that people can consider it.
The Government will bring forward several proposals for legislation.
= put forwardbring in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a government or organization brings in a new law or system, they introduce it.
The government brought in a controversial law under which it could take any land it wanted.
= introduce
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Someone or something that brings in money makes it or earns it.
I have three part-time jobs, which bring in about £14,000 a year.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you bring in someone from outside a team or organization, you invite them to do a job or join in an activity or discussion.
The firm decided to bring in a new management team.
= call inbring off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring off something difficult, you do it successfully.
They were about to bring off an even bigger coup...
He thought his book would change society. But he didn't bring it off.
= pull offbring on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P, also V n P
If something brings on an illness, pain, or feeling, especially one that you often suffer from, it causes you to have it.
Severe shock can bring on an attack of acne...
Bob died of a heart attack, brought on by his lifestyle.bring out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a person or company brings out a new product, especially a new book or CD, they produce it and put it on sale.
A journalist all his life, he's now brought out a book.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Something that brings out a particular kind of behaviour or feeling in you causes you to show it, especially when it is something you do not normally show.
He is totally dedicated and brings out the best in his pupils.bring up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, be V-ed P to-inf, be V-ed P n
When someone brings up a child, they look after it until it is an adult. If someone has been brought up in a certain place or with certain attitudes, they grew up in that place or were taught those attitudes when they were growing up.
She brought up four children...
His grandmother and his father brought him up...
We'd been brought up to think that borrowing money was bad...
I was brought up a Methodist.
= raise
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you bring up a particular subject, you introduce it into a discussion or conversation.
He brought up a subject rarely raised during the course of this campaign...
Why are you bringing it up now?
= raise
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If someone brings up food or wind, food or air is forced up from their stomach through their mouth.
It's hard for the baby to bring up wind.