# bracing

/ˈbɹeɪsɪŋ/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪsɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bracing
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

fresh and full of energy. You use this to describe something cold or sharp that makes you feel more awake and healthy.

For teachers: imparting a feeling of vigor or freshness; physically or mentally stimulating. Often used to describe cold weather, sea air, or a blunt but helpful piece of criticism.

## Examples

- The bracing sea air woke us up immediately.
- After hours in the stuffy office, a bracing walk in the winter wind felt wonderful.
- The professor provided a bracing critique of the student's thesis, stripping away the unnecessary jargon to reveal the core flaws in the argument.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.