# Brooks

/ˈbɹʊks/ (US) · /bɹˈʊks/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. to tolerate

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to allow or accept something, usually something you do not like.

For teachers: to tolerate or allow something, typically used in negative constructions or formal contexts.

- The strict captain brooks no disobedience from his crew.
- The new administration brooks no interference with its policy agenda, moving swiftly to marginalise any internal dissent.

Usage: Typically used in the third-person singular with a negative like 'no' or 'little'.

Teaching tip: This verb is almost exclusively found in formal writing or period literature, often in the phrase 'brooks no delay' or 'brooks no interference'.

## Examples

- The children played by the shallow brooks in the forest.
- After the heavy spring rains, the dry beds in the valley turned into rushing brooks that fed the local lake.
- The landscape is defined by a network of narrow brooks that meander through the meadows, providing a constant source of water for the local wildlife throughout the summer months.

---

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.