brisk

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrisk How to pronounce brisk (audio)
Synonyms of brisk
1
: keenly alert : lively
… a brisk old lady with no nonsense about her …—Jean Stafford
2
a
: pleasingly tangy
brisk tea
b
: fresh, invigorating
a brisk autumn day
3
: sharp in tone or manner
was very brisk on the phone
4
a
: energetic, quick
took a brisk walk
at a brisk pace
b
: marked by much activity
business was brisk
briskly adverb
briskness noun

brisk

2 of 2

verb

brisked; brisking; brisks

transitive verb

: to make animated, energetic, or marked by much activity : to make brisk

intransitive verb

: to become brisk
—usually used with up
business brisked up

Synonyms of brisk

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Adjective

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Examples of brisk in a Sentence

Adjective She answered the phone in a brisk voice. They went for a brisk walk in the woods. She walked at a brisk pace. Business is brisk at the store. There is a brisk market in old movie posters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Pick up apple cider donuts at Breeze Hill Farm before taking a brisk trek through any one of North Fork’s idyllic nature preserves—Orient Beach State Park, Sound View Dunes Park, and Laurel Lake Preserve are some of our favorites. — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026 Quince’s cotton cashmere cardigan is ideal for chilly plane cabins and brisk evenings, and can easily be tied around your shoulders when the weather warms up. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 The problem, of course, is that this newfound speed arrived in a world whose lighting technology had not quite caught up with the idea of vehicles moving at more than a brisk trot. — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 Sales have been brisk for state lottery games after a brief period where inflation apparently caused consumers to dial back purchases of scratch-off tickets. — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for brisk

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably modification of Middle French brusque

Verb

verbal derivative of brisk entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of brisk was in 1560

Rhymes for brisk

See All Rhymes for brisk

Browse Nearby Words

brisé volé
brisk
brisken
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brisk. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brisk

adjective
ˈbrisk
1
: very active or alert : lively
2
: very refreshing
brisk autumn weather
3
: energetic, quick
a brisk pace
briskly adverb
briskness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on brisk

Nglish: Translation of brisk for Spanish Speakers

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