brisk

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /brɪsk/ UK /brɪsk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
quick and energetic; pleasantly cool and invigorating

They set off at a brisk pace through the frosty morning air.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · quick and energetic;... quick lively energetic bracinginvigoratingsnappy vigorous

Opposites

sluggish slow languid lethargic listless

Word family

Forms briskenbriskness

Derived forms brisklybriskness

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

a brisk walk
a walk done at a fast, energetic pace

Adjective + noun
brisk walking
walking at a quick, energetic pace

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Brisk, recorded from the late 16th century, is probably the same word historically as brusque. If so, it ultimately traces through French, where the related word meant “lively” or “fierce,” to Italian brusco “sour.”

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, recorded from the late 16th century; probably an alteration of French brusque ('lively, fierce'), from Italian brusco ('sharp, tart').

brusque French brusco Italian

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# brisk

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /brɪsk/
**IPA (UK):** /brɪsk/

## Meanings
1. quick and energetic; pleasantly cool and invigorating

## Examples
- They set off at a brisk pace through the frosty morning air.

## Synonyms
- quick
- lively
- energetic
- bracing
- invigorating
- snappy
- vigorous

## Antonyms
- sluggish
- slow
- languid
- lethargic
- listless

## Derived Forms
- briskly
- briskness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: brusque
- Root: brusco

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, recorded from the late 16th century; probably an alteration of French brusque ('lively, fierce'), from Italian brusco ('sharp, tart').

## AI Etymology
Brisk is of uncertain origin, recorded from the late 16th century; probably an alteration of French brusque ('lively, fierce'), from Italian brusco ('sharp, tart'). In present-day use, it means quick and energetic; pleasantly cool and invigorating. Derived formations include briskly and briskness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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