Practice
Phrasal verbs with bring: meanings and examples
In a meeting, Noor says, "I want to bring up one small problem." She does not mean that she will lift a problem. Bring up means that she wants to mention it for discussion.
Choose a common phrasal verb with bring by matching the particle to the meaning the sentence needs.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
bring up /brɪŋ ʌp/
The short answer
Choose the particle by meaning. Use bring up to mention a topic, bring back to return something or revive a memory, bring about to cause a change, bring in to introduce or attract money, and bring out to publish, produce, or make a quality easier to notice.
The chair brought up the budget question near the end of the meeting.
Why it works: Brought up means mentioned a topic so that people could discuss it.
5 more examples
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Ravi brought up a scheduling conflict before the team made its final plan.
The phrase means that Ravi mentioned the conflict for discussion.
Not this:Ravi
broughtthe schedule up from the basement archive. What changes: Here, brought has its ordinary physical meaning, and up describes movement to a higher place. -
Please bring back the visitor badge when you leave the building.
Bring back means return the badge to the place that issued it.
Not this:Please
bringthe visitor badge to the front desk before you leave. What changes: This sentence names a destination directly, so it does not use the phrasal verb bring back. -
The new safety rule brought about a sharp drop in accidents.
Brought about means caused the change.
Not this:The new safety rule was
discussedduring the morning briefing. What changes: Discussion alone does not say that the rule caused a result. -
The museum brought in a local historian for the evening program.
Brought in means introduced or asked someone to take part.
Not this:The museum
inviteda local historian to the evening program. What changes: Invited has a similar practical result, but it does not use the phrasal verb bring in. -
The publisher will bring out a revised edition next spring.
Bring out means publish or release something for people to use or buy.
Not this:The publisher will
discussthe revised edition next spring. What changes: Discussing an edition is different from releasing it.
Read the full guide
Start by asking what happens to the object in the sentence. If a topic enters a conversation, bring up is likely. If a policy causes a result, bring about may fit. If a company releases a product, bring out can work. The particle gives the phrase its direction and purpose, so read the complete sentence before you choose.
Read bring and its particle as one unit
A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle. The particle is not decoration. It changes the idea you need to understand. With bring, look at the complete phrase before you decide what it means.
Maya brought up a question about the deadline.
Brought up means mentioned. Maya wants the group to discuss the question.
Does bring up mean mention or return in this sentence?
It means mention. The object is a question for discussion.
Use bring up for a topic or for raising a child
In meetings and conversations, bring up means introduce a subject. With a child as the object, it means raise and care for the child while the child grows up. The context makes the meaning clear.
Sam did not bring up the price until the client asked for a quote.
The price is a topic, so bring up means mention it.
Complete the sentence: Her grandparents ___ her after her parents moved abroad.
Use brought up: Her grandparents brought her up after her parents moved abroad.
Use bring back for return and memory
Bring back can mean return something to a previous place or person. It can also mean make an old memory feel present again. Both uses have the idea of something coming back.
That song brings back memories of my first job.
No object is physically moving. The song makes the speaker remember an earlier time.
Choose the pronoun position: Please bring ___ back before noon.
Use it: Please bring it back before noon.
Use bring about and bring in for results and additions
Use bring about when an action or event causes a result. Use bring in when an organization introduces something, asks a person to join, or earns money. Check whether the sentence is about a cause or a new addition.
The fundraiser brought in enough money to repair the community hall.
Brought in means earned money. It does not mean caused the repairs.
Complete the sentence: The apology ___ a calmer discussion.
Use brought about: The apology brought about a calmer discussion.
Use bring out for a release or a visible quality
A company can bring out a new product, book, or edition. Bring out can also mean make a quality more noticeable. The noun after the phrase tells you whether the sentence is about a release or a quality.
The bright color brings out the blue in her eyes.
The color makes the blue easier to notice. Nothing is being published.
Complete the sentence: The studio will ___ a new documentary in June.
Use bring out: The studio will bring out a new documentary in June.
Before you go
Remember this
Read bring together with its particle. Bring up means mention, bring back means return or revive a memory, bring about means cause, bring in means introduce or earn, and bring out means release or make noticeable. If a pronoun is the object of a separable phrase, put it before the particle: bring it back.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Phrasal verbs with bring: meanings and examples"
What is a phrasal verb with bring?
A phrasal verb with bring combines bring with a particle such as up, back, in, out, or about. The particle changes the meaning, so learn the whole phrase. For example, bring up can mean mention, while bring back can mean return something.
Ravi brought up a scheduling conflict before the team made its final plan.
What does bring up mean?
Bring up usually means mention a subject so people can discuss it. In a different context, bring up a child means raise the child. Read the object and situation before choosing the meaning. A question in a meeting is normally a topic, not a child.
Ravi brought the schedule up from the basement archive.
What does bring back mean?
Bring back can mean return an item to a previous place or person. It can also mean make someone remember an earlier time. The object helps you decide. A visitor badge can be returned, while a familiar song can bring back a memory.
Please bring back the visitor badge when you leave the building.
What does bring about mean?
Bring about means cause something to happen or change. It often has an action, event, or policy as the subject and a result as the object. If a safety rule brings about fewer accidents, the rule causes that result.
Please bring the visitor badge to the front desk before you leave.
Can I separate bring back with an object?
Yes. You can say bring back the folder or bring the folder back. With a pronoun, put the pronoun between the verb and particle: bring it back. This word order is standard for a separable phrasal verb such as bring back.
The new safety rule brought about a sharp drop in accidents.