Phrasal verbs with bring
Bring is about carrying something to where you are. Its phrasal verbs are often about causing or raising things: bring up a topic, bring about a change, bring back memories.
Phrasal verbs with bring by level
- A1–A20—
- B14bring back, bring up, bring out
- B214bring back, bring up, bring in
- C1–C22bring up, bring about
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 4 meanings
- bring backbring somebody or something backB1
return with something, or take something back to where it was
Can you bring me back some chocolate from Belgium?
- bring backbring something backB1
make you remember something from the past
This song brings back so many memories.
- bring upbring somebody upB1
look after a child until they are an adult
She was brought up by her grandparents in Lisbon.
- bring outbring something outB1
take something out of a place so people can see or use it
Grandpa brought out the old photo albums after dinner.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 14 meanings
- bring backbring something backB2
start using an old rule, product or idea again
They’re bringing back the old logo next year.
- bring upbring something upB2
start talking about a subject
Don’t bring up money at Grandma’s birthday dinner.
- bring upbring something upB2
make something appear on a screen
Can you bring up the map on the big screen?
- bring inbring something inB2
start using a new law, rule or system
The city brought in a new parking fee last year.
- bring inbring something inB2
earn or make an amount of money
Her second job brings in about 500 euros a month.
- bring inbring somebody or something inB2
ask someone from outside to help with a job
They brought in an expert to fix the website.
- bring inbring somebody or something inB2
make people come to a place or business
The street festival brings in thousands of visitors.
- bring downbring something downB2
make something lower, like prices, costs or a temperature
The shop has brought down its prices for the sale.
- bring downbring somebody or something downB2
make a government or leader lose power
The scandal brought down the prime minister.
- bring downbring somebody downB2
make someone feel sad or less happy
Don’t let one bad review bring you down.
- bring outbring something outB2
make a new product, book or album available to buy
The band is bringing out a new album in May.
- bring outbring something outB2
make a quality, taste or feeling easier to notice
A little salt brings out the sweetness in tomatoes.
- bring togetherbring somebody togetherB2
make people meet, work together or feel closer
The street party brought the whole neighbourhood together.
- bring togetherbring something togetherB2
put different things or ideas into one place
The app brings together all your bank accounts.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 2 meanings
- bring upbring something upC1
be sick, bringing food back out of your mouth
The baby brought up some of her milk.
- bring aboutbring something aboutC1
make something happen, usually a change
The new manager brought about some big changes.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with bring: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Our school is _____ a ban on phones.
Bring in: start using a new law, rule or system. More on bring in
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2The band is _____ a new album in May.
Bring out: make a new product, book or album available to buy. More on bring out
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3Social media alone can’t bring _____ real change. (make something happen, usually a change)
Bring about: make something happen, usually a change. More on bring about
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4Which is correct? (start using an old rule, product or idea again)
Bring back is separable here, and a pronoun must go in the middle. More on bring back
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5Solar panels _____ our electricity bill a lot.
Bring down: make something lower, like prices, costs or a temperature. More on bring down
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6I’ll bring it up at the next team meeting. What does it mean here?
Bring up: start talking about a subject. More on bring up
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7Sadly, the crisis didn’t bring the family _____. (make people meet, work together or feel closer)
Bring together: make people meet, work together or feel closer. More on bring together
Phrasal verbs with bring: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with bring are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 7 are the ones learners meet most, with 20 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with bring?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: bring back, bring up, bring about, bring in. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with bring are separable?
7 of them have at least one separable meaning, where the object can go in the middle: bring back, bring up, bring about, bring in, bring down, bring out. With a pronoun like it or them, the object must go in the middle.