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to bridge

to bridge

50 3.9
To connect two people or groups to reduce a gap between them
  • verb
  • /brɪdʒ/
translation icon : cerrar la brecha
  • How do you bridge that seemingly unbridgeable gap?
  • bridge the gap
  • help bridge the gap
  • bridge the divide

Some generation must bridge those two ways of living.

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Examples

  • Thus, school psychologists may play an important role in helping bridge these perceived differences.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The question arises as to whether students bridge any knowledge gaps while they are in college.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Some generation must bridge those two ways of living.

  • So I wonder now if we were to bridge that, what would happen?

  • Some problems remain, however, that challenge us to bridge the cultural gap between East and West.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Second, it is important to have relationships that bridge the two worlds of work and the personal.

    Academic text (1991)
  • And I think just as important as pushing forward our knowledge and continuing to do science and research, it's important to bridge that gap.

  • Human language evolved to enable diverse individuals to bridge the gaps that separate them.

    Academic text (2008)
  • On one level, the communicative potential of Pena's paintings served to bridge cultural differences.

    Academic text (1994)
  • To foster innovation, companies must bridge the gap between their research and development teams.

Synonyms

to bridge the gap
vsto bridge
  • Informal
17 4.0

To make it easier for two groups or ideas to understand each other

is broader covering general connection beyond just communication or understanding
to bridge over
vsto bridge
4.8

Make a connection between two things or people, for example to reduce differences

is the single word form with the same meaning

Antonyms

256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

161 3.5

To separate something so it is no longer joined, for example remove a cable or turn off power

Idioms

8 3.9

Something that happened in the past and is no longer important

bridge too far
  • Informal
1 8.5

An action or plan that tries to do too much and is likely to fail

1 7.7

To end a relationship or opportunity so you cannot use it again

1 8.2

To do something dangerous or foolish because other people do it

Tell someone to stop worrying about a problem and move on

To deal with a problem only when it happens, not before

To offer something unbelievable to trick someone, often as a joke

Phrasal Verbs

17 4.0

To make it easier for two groups or ideas to understand each other

Make a connection between two things or people, for example to reduce differences

Provide money or help to cover a gap between two times

Compounds

A big bridge in New York that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn

A large bright red suspension bridge in San Francisco that crosses the entrance to the bay

A bridge with a roof and sides that protect the path

suspension bridge
  • Specialized
4 3.6

A bridge with its road hung from large cables fixed at each end

A large suspension bridge carrying traffic across the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey

A raised path that lets people cross roads or rivers

2 3.5

A narrow crossing of ropes and boards for walking over water or a valley

A person who plays the card game bridge for fun or as a job

1 3.2

A bridge you pay to cross

1 3.1

A person who plays on your side in the card game bridge

trestle bridge
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A bridge made of short sections that rest on many supports

bridge deck
  • Specialized
1 6.1

An upper deck on a ship where the captain stands to steer and look out

bridge hand
  • Jargon
1 4.9

Cards a player is dealt in the game of bridge

1 9.3

People who travel into a city from outside to go out for fun

floating bridge
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A temporary bridge that rests on boats or platforms on water

lift bridge
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A bridge with a section that rises so ships can pass under it

jet bridge
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A covered bridge that connects an airport gate to a plane door

pontoon bridge
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A temporary bridge that floats on boats to cross water

A large steel arch bridge that crosses Sydney Harbour and links the city center to the North Shore

truss bridge
  • Specialized
1 5.1

Bridge with a frame of connected triangles that holds the road or railway

A bridge built of steel with its main support shaped like an arch

bateau bridge
  • Specialized
9.9

A temporary crossing made from boats or rafts to carry people and vehicles over water

A bridge held up by cables across the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey

A bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A steel arch bridge connecting Bayonne, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York across the Kill Van Kull

bridge agent
  • Jargon
9.3

A person who secretly carries messages between a case officer and an undercover agent in enemy territory

bridge agent
  • Specialized
5.5

A program or device that connects two systems and translates data so they can communicate

bridge circuit
  • Specialized
6.5

An electric circuit in a diamond shape that measures resistance when you connect a meter across it

bridge whist
  • Archaic
9.9

Early card game that lets the dealer choose the trump suit

A person who travels from the suburbs into the city by bridge or tunnel

A large bridge in Istanbul that connects the European and Asian sides of the city

A long bridge in Istanbul connecting the European and Asian sides

A bridge held by cables over the East River connecting the Bronx and Queens

cantilever bridge
  • Specialized
5.8

A bridge made of beams that stick out from supports and meet in the middle to hold the road

A large steel bridge that crosses the Delaware River between Chester, Pennsylvania and Bridgeport, New Jersey

A long bridge that crosses the Delaware River between Chester, Pennsylvania and Bridgeport, New Jersey, named after John Barry

A card game for four people in two teams where players bid and win tricks

A pair of suspension bridges that cross the Delaware River between Delaware and New Jersey

A large bridge over the Tagus River in Lisbon that looks like San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge

A suspension bridge that crosses the Orinoco River at Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela

auction bridge
  • Archaic
9.1

A version of the card game bridge where extra tricks above the agreed number count for the score

Bailey bridge
  • Specialized
6.8

A temporary metal bridge built quickly from parts for people or vehicles to cross a river

fly bridge
  • Specialized
8.3

A small open deck above the ship's control room for steering and a better view

flying bridge
  • Specialized
7.9

A small open deck above where the captain stands to watch and help steer the ship

A very long bridge that connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas across the Straits of Mackinac

A large bridge in Osaka that crosses the port area

A bridge in Osaka, Japan with strong arms that hold the road

monkey bridge
  • Specialized
9.0

A narrow high platform on a ship that crew use to look out

Two large bridges that cross the Mississippi River at New Orleans and carry vehicles

9.2

A road that goes over the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A very long bridge held by cables over the Humber near Hull in northern England

A small crossing with a steep curved middle that people and cars use over water

A long bridge held by cables that connects the Japanese islands Kyushu and Honshu across the Kanmon Strait

A suspension bridge that connects Kyushu and Honshu across the Kanmon Straits

network bridge
  • Specialized
5.0

A device that connects parts of a computer network so they work as one

A very high steel arch bridge that crosses the New River at Fayetteville, West Virginia

A large bridge that crosses the Saint Lawrence River near Quebec City

A large bridge that connects Manhattan and Queens across the East River

rainbow bridge
  • Literature
7.4

A peaceful place people imagine their pets go after they die

A suspension bridge that connects Quebec City and Lévis across the Saint Lawrence River

A bridge held up by tall cables over Puget Sound at Tacoma, Washington, famous for collapsing in 1940

A bridge that crossed the Hudson River in New York State, connecting Westchester and Rockland counties

A large bridge that connects Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York City

A large bridge held by cables over the Delaware River that connects Philadelphia and Gloucester City in New Jersey

Wheatstone bridge
  • Specialized
7.5

A circuit that measures how strongly a part stops electric current by balancing two sides

How Connected

to merge
192 3.2
to reconcile
68 5.4
to bridge
50 3.9
to link
376 3.0
to relate
317 2.2

Surface Forms

bridge infinitive
bridged past
bridged past participle
bridging present participle
bridges third person singular

Etymology

Bridge meaning 'to connect' comes from the image of a structure that joins two sides, so to 'bridge' a gap is to 'close' the distance or difference between things.