Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Bring
Bring phrasal verbs are about causing a result or moving something toward the speaker: bring about a change, bring up a topic, bring a friend along.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
bring about
cause to happen
The new policy brought about significant changes.
The new policy caused significant changes to happen.
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bring along
carry something with you
She brought along her favourite book on the trip.
She carried her favourite book with her on the trip.
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bring around
make someone conscious again
The doctor managed to bring him around after he fainted.
The doctor managed to revive him after he fainted.
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bring around
convince
He brought her around to his point of view eventually.
He convinced her of his point of view eventually.
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bring back
make someone remember
That song brings back so many childhood memories.
That song makes me remember so much of my childhood.
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bring back
start using something again
The company decided to bring back the old design.
The company decided to use the old design again.
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bring down
cause someone to lose power
The scandal brought down the politician.
The scandal caused the politician to lose power.
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bring forward
move to an earlier time
The meeting was brought forward to next Monday.
The meeting was moved to an earlier date, next Monday.
Bring a meeting forward means make it earlier. Put it off means the opposite.
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bring in
involve someone from outside
They brought in an outside expert to help with the project.
They involved an outside expert to help with the project.
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bring in
earn
The business brings in a steady income every month.
The business earns a steady income every month.
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bring in
introduce
The government plans to bring in a new law to regulate AI.
The government plans to introduce a new law to regulate AI.
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bring in
return (a verdict)
The jury brought in a guilty verdict.
The jury returned a guilty verdict.
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bring off
achieve something difficult
She brought off an impressive win in the competition.
She achieved an impressive win in the competition.
Accomplish something difficult: bring off a win or bring it off. Learn this as an additional expression alongside the more familiar bring back and bring up.
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bring on
cause something to start
The storm brought on a power outage.
The storm triggered a power outage.
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bring out
release
The company will bring out a new product line this year.
The company will release a new product line this year.
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bring out
make something more noticeable
The report brings out the key points of the issue.
The report highlights the key points of the issue.
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bring to
make someone conscious again
The nurse brought him to after the surgery.
The nurse revived him after the surgery.
Revive someone: bring someone to. The person must go before to: they brought him to.
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bring up
raise (a child)
My grandparents brought me up with great care.
My grandparents raised me with great care.
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bring up
introduce for discussion
During the meeting, she brought up an important topic for discussion.
During the meeting, she introduced an important topic for discussion.
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bring up
vomit food
The bad food made him bring up his dinner.
The bad food made him vomit his dinner.
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20 meanings of 12 bring phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| bring about | cause to happen | Separable |
| bring along | carry something with you | Separable |
| bring around | make someone conscious again | Separable |
| bring around | convince | Separable |
| bring back | make someone remember | Separable |
| bring back | start using something again | Separable |
| bring down | cause someone to lose power | Separable |
| bring forward | move to an earlier time | Separable |
| bring in | involve someone from outside | Separable |
| bring in | earn | Separable |
| bring in | introduce | Separable |
| bring in | return (a verdict) | Separable |
| bring off | achieve something difficult | Separable |
| bring on | cause something to start | Separable |
| bring out | release | Separable |
| bring out | make something more noticeable | Separable |
| bring to | make someone conscious again | Fixed pattern |
| bring up | raise (a child) | Separable |
| bring up | introduce for discussion | Separable |
| bring up | vomit food | Separable |
About this set
The page is useful if you already know take and want the opposite direction: bring toward you, take away from you.
Bring up needs extra care: it can mean mention a subject or raise a child.
Usage notes
- bring up. Separable. Bring up a topic means mention it. Bring up a child means raise them. The object tells you which meaning you want.
- bring about. Separable: bring about a change, bring a change about, bring it about. It means cause something to happen.
- bring along. Separable. Bring a friend along or bring them along.
- bring forward. Move something to an earlier time: bring the meeting forward. The opposite idea is often put off or push back.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: Bring up it at the meeting.
Correct: Bring it up at the meeting.
Bring up is separable, so a pronoun object must sit in the middle.
Incorrect: Can we bring the meeting off to Friday?
Correct: Can we bring the meeting forward to Friday?
Bring forward makes something earlier. Bring off means to accomplish something difficult.
Incorrect: She brought up in Leeds.
Correct: She was brought up in Leeds.
In the raising-a-child sense the verb is usually passive, because somebody else did the bringing up.
Incorrect: The nurse brought to him.
Correct: The nurse brought him to.
Bring to meaning revive puts the person in the middle.
Common questions
How do I know which bring up I need?
If the object is a person (a child), it means raise. If the object is a subject, question, or issue, it means mention. Both are separable: bring it up.
Is bring about the same as bring on?
Close, but not the same. Bring about is cause a change or result, often larger or more formal. Bring on is often used for triggering something unwanted, such as an illness or a headache.