Skip to main content
to bring

to bring

328 7.6
To start a court case against someone
  • verb
  • /brɪŋ/
  • Formal
: interponer (una demanda/cargos)
  • The attorney successfully brought charges of embezzlement against the suspect.
  • bring a suit
  • bring an action
  • bring charges

Not a single case was brought against crush videos.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The suit was, however, brought more than one year after the injury had occurred.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I plan on bringing a wrongful termination suit against Charles Wheeler and his partners.

  • Like he was brought to trial, charges were brought against him.

  • I want to bring an action.

  • Your former wife has brought charges.

  • There is also discretion in which cases to bring and which to leave for state authorities.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Practitioners have proposed that the Commission "bring all but its most routine cases in federal court."

    Academic text (2017)
  • The judge paid the tax under protest and brought suit to recover the tax paid.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The trademark infringement action was brought by Rio Properties Inc., a Las Vegas hotel and casino.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh decided not to bring any charges that the diversion was illegal.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

to sue
vsto bring
885 3.7

To take someone to court to ask for money

advances a formal case in court, not only starting action against a person
to prosecute
vsto bring
403 6.1

Officially take someone to court to try to prove they broke the law

applies to any formal case in court, not only criminal trials
to institute
vsto bring
  • Formal
96 3.8

To officially start something such as a rule, process, or legal action

is focused specifically on advancing a court case rather than starting any process
to file a lawsuit
vsto bring
  • Formal
53 4.6

To start legal action by giving a complaint to a court

focuses on advancing a formal case in court rather than only submitting papers
to take legal action
vsto bring
  • Formal
10 4.8

To start a court case against someone by suing them

advances a formal case in court rather than emphasizing procedural options

Antonyms

to dismiss
  • Formal
144 4.1

To end a legal case so the court does not consider it

Idioms

16 6.5

To make a person, company or system stop working

10 4.4

To earn money to support your family

To cause a group of people to stand and clap to show approval

3 5.5

To make an audience clap and cheer loudly

1 8.2

To take firm action to punish someone

Be badly prepared for a situation where others have much better tools

Give something unnecessary to people who already have enough

To be ready to face problems and manage alone

Hard times can lead to better things later

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 2.9

Introduce a new person or thing into a group

∞ 1.7

Return someone or something to the place they came from

752 2.6

To mention a subject for discussion

359 1.6

Take something out of a cupboard or closet

342 3.5

Cause something, often a sickness or a bad feeling, to start

267 3.3

Move something or someone from a higher to a lower place, for example land an aircraft

166 3.0

To make something happen

160 2.9

Help someone become more confident and show their abilities

to bring down
  • Informal
153 4.3

Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad

142 2.5

Care for and teach a child until they become an adult

139 3.0

Make someone remember something from the past

123 3.0

Make an amount or level lower

99 2.8

Earn money from a thing or activity

98 3.7

To make someone remember or think of something

87 4.0

To make a person who broke the law be caught and punished

78 4.6

To make a leader or government lose power

To make someone remember the past, for example a song or photo

To make people and things alive or working again

To give useful ideas or skills to a group

51 3.7

Make secret information known to the public

48 2.3

To make someone feel happy

44 3.0

Make a quality or detail easier to notice

To produce or show something new for others to use

35 5.1

To use effort or knowledge to solve a problem

To show facts that were hidden before

22 3.3

To earn money regularly for your family

22 2.7

Make a product, book or film available to the public

To present an idea or plan for people to discuss

17 3.7

To make someone understand something clearly

To heat a liquid until it boils or make a situation very intense

To make a new product ready for people to buy

to bring up
  • Literature
10 5.7

Cause a spirit or magic thing to appear

To move something closer to the front, for example a chair

To be the last person or thing in a group that is moving

8 3.3

Move someone to a higher job or rank

8 3.3

Introduce a new product, show, or book to the public

to bring forth
  • Literature
7 8.1

To give birth to a child or young animal

to bring up
  • Specialized
7 5.5

Start a computer's operating system so it can run

to bring around
  • Informal
7 3.6

To cause someone to change their mind

to bring down
  • Informal
7 5.4

Make an audience clap or cheer loudly

Help someone survive or recover from a dangerous situation

5 6.5

Make a social event lively and fun

4 3.0

Cause someone or something to stop suddenly

to bring to heel
  • Informal
4 7.6

Make someone or something obey after they resist

3 6.1

To succeed in doing something difficult

To make a group feel part of the same community

3 6.0

Give an official decision in court

To use influence to persuade someone to do something

3 3.3

Allow a signal or sound to come into a place using equipment

To make someone conscious again after fainting or illness

Stop someone suddenly, often during speech or action

to bring the fun
  • Informal
1 5.3

To make a party or event lively and enjoyable for people

1 5.3

Cause a computer system, website, or service to stop working

1 4.4

To persuade someone to accept your idea or plan

1 3.6

To make people start having fun at a party or event

to bring about
  • Specialized
1 5.3

To turn a boat so it faces the other way

To force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant

Offer something for sale at an auction

to bring it weak
  • Informal
9.9

To do badly because you lack energy or effort

Make red, itchy spots appear on the skin

How Forceful

to prosecute
403 6.1
to litigate
  • Specialized
28 8.2
to bring
  • Formal
328 7.6
to press
337 3.9
to file
  • Formal
∞ 3.7

Surface Forms

bring infinitive
bringing present participle
brings third person singular
brought past
brought past participle

Etymology

Bring in law comes from the old English bringan, meaning 'to carry', so to bring a case or charges is to carry or present that matter before a judge.