brisk
1 of 2adjective
ˈbrisk 
1
: keenly alert : lively
a brisk old lady with no nonsense about her
Jean Stafford
Jean Stafford2
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 2verb
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
Adjective
- active
- airy
- animate
- animated
- bouncing
- energetic
- frisky
- gay
- jaunty
- jazzy
- kinetic
- lively
- mettlesome
- peppy
- perky
- pert
- pizzazzy
- pizazzy
- racy
- snappy
- spanking
- sparky
- spirited
- sprightly
- springy
- vital
- vivacious
- zippy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 The series sees Mickey and friends through brisk, unconnected nine-minute adventures that can be viewed in any order. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The largest reduction in dementia risk – 62% – was achieved by people who walked at a very brisk pace of 112 steps per minute for 30 minutes a day, the study found. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Part of that is also thanks to the brisk propulsion of cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s crisp visuals and the additional push of John Powell’s big, forceful score. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 My colleague Alexandra Stevenson, The New York Times’ Shanghai bureau chief, tested the uniform with a brisk 30-minute uphill hike. Christopher Flavelle, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Recent brisk west winds have helped concentrate the migrating dragonflies along Lake Michigan. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Chapped lips are a terrible feeling, but this Fenty Beauty duo that comes with a scrub stick and pink-sheer lip balm will ensure your lips are set and ready to tackle the brisk weather. Daisy Maldonado, SELF, 2 Sep. 2022 The low-end torque is competent for brisk starts from the traffic light, with 0-60 mph coming at 7.5 ticks and the quarter-mile at 15.8. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 27 Aug. 2022 Nelson Ireson, Car and Driver, 27 Apr. 2021 THE VIBE IS: brisk and professional, if borderline chaotic. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit, 13 Apr. 2017 See More
Adjective
This is the way modern heartbreak occurs, not with a bang but with a video call, and the brisk exchange of two-factor authentication codes. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 The series sees Mickey and friends through brisk, unconnected nine-minute adventures that can be viewed in any order. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The largest reduction in dementia risk – 62% – was achieved by people who walked at a very brisk pace of 112 steps per minute for 30 minutes a day, the study found. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Part of that is also thanks to the brisk propulsion of cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s crisp visuals and the additional push of John Powell’s big, forceful score. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 My colleague Alexandra Stevenson, The New York Times’ Shanghai bureau chief, tested the uniform with a brisk 30-minute uphill hike. Christopher Flavelle, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 Recent brisk west winds have helped concentrate the migrating dragonflies along Lake Michigan. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Chapped lips are a terrible feeling, but this Fenty Beauty duo that comes with a scrub stick and pink-sheer lip balm will ensure your lips are set and ready to tackle the brisk weather. Daisy Maldonado, SELF, 2 Sep. 2022 The low-end torque is competent for brisk starts from the traffic light, with 0-60 mph coming at 7.5 ticks and the quarter-mile at 15.8. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 27 Aug. 2022 Verb
As in all Taycans, a two-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle enables brisk off-the-line acceleration and more efficient high-speed cruising. Nelson Ireson, Car and Driver, 27 Apr. 2021 THE VIBE IS: brisk and professional, if borderline chaotic. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit, 13 Apr. 2017 See More 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
Kids Definition
brisk
adjective
ˈbrisk
1
: done or spoken with quickness and energy
a brisk walk
2
: quick and efficient
a brisk voice
3
: very refreshing
brisk fall weather
brisk
adjective
1
as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement a brisk exercise that many athletes use to warm up Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lively
- energetic
- animated
- active
- animate
- spirited
- cheerful
- sprightly
- bouncing
- peppy
- enthusiastic
- perky
- zippy
- jaunty
- frisky
- playful
- kinetic
- awake
- vivacious
- jazzy
- snappy
- racy
- sparky
- springy
- pert
- mettlesome
- spanking
- airy
- vital
- gay
- agile
- bright
- pizazzy
- dashing
- up
- pizzazzy
- buoyant
- eager
- dapper
- spry
- spiffy
- upbeat
- nimble
- chirpy
- effervescent
- ebullient
- chipper
- boisterous
- exuberant
- alert
- on the go
- nervous
- bubbly
- agog
- impish
- sparkly
- frolicsome
- keen
- wide-awake
- open-eyed
- chirrupy
- pixieish
- skittish
- high-spirited
- high-strung
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- languid
- listless
- limp
- leaden
- lifeless
- dead
- lackadaisical
- inactive
- spiritless
- sluggish
- vapid
- lazy
- languishing
- languorous
- indolent
- inanimate
- sleepy
- torpid
- lethargic
- weary
- unambitious
- inert
- tired
- stolid
- phlegmatic
- dull
- tedious
- impassive
- boring
- apathetic
- irksome
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed moved at a brisk walk through the exhibit Synonyms & Similar Words
- rapid
- galloping
- quick
- fast
- swift
- speedy
- whirlwind
- breakneck
- zippy
- hot
- rattling
- breathless
- hasty
- blistering
- hurried
- snappy
- rapid-fire
- lightning
- nippy
- accelerated
- fleet
- at speed
- flying
- vigorous
- dizzy
- splitting
- fleet-footed
- quickened
- strong
- expeditious
- prompt
- strenuous
- rushed
- energetic
- ready
- rush
- hastened
- breathtaking
- high-speed
- ultrafast
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- sluggish
- languid
- leisurely
- unhurried
- plodding
- lingering
- deliberate
- dragging
- pokey
- laggard
- crawling
- poky
- slowish
- dilatory
- dallying
- late
- measured
- tardy
- dillydallying
- dawdling
- poking
- ultraslow
3
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity brisk trading on the stock market Synonyms & Similar Words
- buzzing
- busy
- vibrant
- lively
- humming
- thriving
- crowded
- rousing
- bustling
- kinetic
- astir
- animated
- populous
- flourishing
- stirring
- hopping
- abuzz
- abubble
- teeming
- alive
- aboil
- happening
- thronging
- abounding
- swarming
- overflowing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sleepy
- lifeless
- dead
- inactive
- asleep
- black-humored
- black-legged kittiwake
- black-legged tick
- black-market
- black-marketed
- black-marketing
- black-markets
- black-necked grebe
- black-necked stilt
- black-nosed dace
- black-on-black
- black-or-white
- black-poll warbler
- black-seed plantain
- black-seeded plantain
- black-shouldered kite
- black-spotted trout
- dutchs
- Dutchware blue
- dutchwomen
- Dutchy
- duteous
- duteouser
- duteousest
- duteouslier