# bring

/ˈbɹɪŋ/ (US) · /bɹˈɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bring
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to carry to a place

verb · CEFR A1

to take or carry someone or something to a place or person.

For teachers: to carry, convey, or conduct something or someone toward the speaker or a specified destination. Often ditransitive, taking both a direct and indirect object.

- Please bring your laptop to the meeting so we can look at the files.
- The courier was instructed to bring the confidential documents directly to the CEO's office without stopping at the reception desk.

### 2. to cause or result in

verb · CEFR B1

to cause something to happen or exist.

For teachers: to cause, occasion, or result in a particular state or event.

- The heavy rains will bring much-needed water to the dry fields.
- The new economic policy is expected to bring significant changes to the manufacturing sector over the next decade.

### 3. to start a legal case

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to start a legal process or charge against someone.

For teachers: to initiate or institute legal proceedings, such as a lawsuit or formal charges.

- The police decided to bring charges against the driver after the accident.
- The environmental group intends to bring a lawsuit against the corporation for its repeated violations of waste disposal regulations.

### 4. to earn or fetch

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to be sold for a certain amount of money.

For teachers: to produce a specific price or income when sold.

- The rare painting is expected to bring millions at the auction tomorrow.
- The sale of the subsidiary is projected to bring a substantial profit, which will be reinvested into research and development.

## Examples

- Please bring your books to class tomorrow.
- I will bring some snacks to the party so everyone has something to eat while we watch the movie.
- The new policy is expected to bring significant changes to the way the department handles customer complaints, though the full impact will not be felt until next quarter.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I will take this to you tomorrow" but "I will bring this to you tomorrow" — Use 'bring' for movement toward the person you are speaking to; 'take' is for movement away from the current location.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and often takes both a direct and indirect object ('bring someone something'). It implies movement toward the speaker, whereas 'take' implies movement away.

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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.