brisk
BRISK
/brɪsk/
Quick, active, or energetic; (of weather) cold but pleasantly fresh.
Implies a healthy, purposeful, and invigorating speed.
The story behind the word. It likely comes from the French 'brusque', which meant 'lively' or 'fierce'. In English, it lost the 'fierce' edge and became a way to describe something that is pleasantly fast and sharp, like a cool autumn breeze.
Word relationships
- energetic: Brisk specifically refers to the pace of an action, while energetic refers to the person's internal state.
- leisurely: Leisurely is relaxed and slow; brisk is active and fast.
Commonly confused with
- fast: Fast is general; brisk implies a certain 'snap' or crispness to the movement.
Word family
- briskly (adverb): In a brisk manner.
- briskness (noun): The quality of being brisk.
Collocations
- brisk walk
- brisk pace
- brisk weather
Example sentences
- "A brisk walk in the morning is the best way to start the day." Exercise.
- "The shop did a brisk trade in umbrellas during the sudden downpour." Business activity.
Memory hook
Brisk sounds like 'crisp'—think of a crisp, fast walk in the cold air. Brisk = Bright and Quick.
When not to use
Not used for high-speed machinery; it's usually reserved for human activity or weather.
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, 'brisk' was often used to describe the flavor of wine.
Explore more words
vivacious, upbeat, vibrant, exhilarating, invigorate, exhilarate
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