bring on: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral. More common in spoken language and informal writing.
Quick answer
What does “bring on” mean?
To cause something, usually something negative or challenging, to happen or occur.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause something, usually something negative or challenging, to happen or occur.
Can also mean to cause or encourage something positive (like talent) to develop; used in sports for introducing a new player; informally used to issue a challenge ('Bring it on!').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slightly more common in UK English in the 'cause illness' sense (e.g., 'bring on a headache'). 'Bring it on!' as a challenge is equally common in both.
Connotations
In both, primary connotation is negative causality. In sports contexts, neutral/positive.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Grammar
How to Use “bring on” in a Sentence
[Subject] bring on [Object] (noun phrase)[Subject] bring [Object] on [Causer] (less common)Imperative: Bring it on!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bring on” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The damp weather can bring on my arthritis.
- The manager will bring on a new defender soon.
American English
- That news really brought on a panic attack.
- It's time to bring on the relief pitcher.
adjective
British English
- The bring-on substitute changed the game. (Contextual, rare as true adjective)
American English
- He's our bring-on specialist for late goals. (Contextual, rare)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The sudden policy change brought on a wave of uncertainty in the markets."
Academic
"The researchers argued that stress could bring on episodes of the condition."
Everyday
"Eating too much sugar always brings on a headache for me."
Technical
"The coach decided to bring on the fresh striker in the 70th minute." (Sports)
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bring on”
- Using 'bring on' for intentional, planned positive events (e.g., *'They brought on the celebration') – use 'organise' or 'put on'.
- Confusing with 'bring about' (more formal and often for larger-scale change).
- Using it without a direct object (*'The stress brought on.').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often used for negative outcomes, it's neutral in sports ('bring on a substitute') and can be positive in contexts of development ('bring on new talent').
'Bring on' is more informal and often implies a more immediate or direct trigger, especially for specific conditions (illness, emotional state). 'Cause' is more general and formal.
It's a fixed, informal idiom expressing readiness and enthusiasm for a challenge. E.g., 'You think you can beat me? Bring it on!'
Yes, it's a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'The stress brought the headache on' or 'The stress brought on the headache.' However, pronoun objects must go in the middle: 'It brought it on.'
To cause something, usually something negative or challenging, to happen or occur.
Bring on is usually informal to neutral. more common in spoken language and informal writing. in register.
Bring on: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bring it on!”
- “Bring on the night.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone BRINGING a dark cloud ONto a sunny day, causing rain. The action BRINGS the rain ON.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAUSATION IS BRINGING (an abstract effect is conceptualized as an object being brought into existence/presence).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'bring on' used CORRECTLY?