bring to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to semi-formal; used in both spoken and written English, particularly in medical, narrative, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “bring to” mean?
To cause someone to regain consciousness or awareness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause someone to regain consciousness or awareness; to revive.
To return to a state of consciousness, attention, or functionality; to restore someone or something to an active or alert condition. Also used figuratively for focusing attention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both variants use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “bring to” in a Sentence
[Agent] brought [Patient] to.[Patient] was brought to by [Agent].Bring [Patient] to!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bring to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The paramedics worked quickly to bring the casualty to.
- A splash of cold water finally brought him to.
American English
- The nurse used smelling salts to bring the patient to.
- He was brought to by the loud sound of the alarm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in a literal sense. Figuratively: 'The new data brought the team to a stark realisation about the project's risks.'
Academic
Used in medical, psychological, or historical texts describing recovery from states like fainting or shock.
Everyday
Common for discussing fainting, minor accidents, or startling someone into awareness. 'She fainted in the heat, but we brought her to with some water.'
Technical
Standard term in first aid, medicine, and emergency response protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bring to”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bring to”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bring to”
- Incorrect: 'They brought him to life.' (Unless meaning literally resuscitated from death; for fainting, 'brought him to' or 'brought him round' is better).
- Incorrect: 'Bring her to awake.' (Redundant; 'bring her to' already means 'awake').
- Incorrect preposition: 'bring at' or 'bring on' (with this meaning).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Bring to' specifically means to regain consciousness. 'Bring back' can mean to return something physically or to restore something more generally (e.g., bring back an old tradition). In a medical context, 'bring back' is less precise.
'Bring to' is transitive; someone revives another person. 'Come to' is intransitive; the person regains consciousness on their own. E.g., 'The doctor brought her to' vs. 'She came to after a few minutes.'
It is primarily for living beings. For machines or systems, we use 'bring online', 'restart', or 'reactivate'. Figuratively, you might 'bring a project to life'.
No. The past tense of 'bring' is 'brought'. The correct form is 'brought to'. Example: 'They brought the swimmer to after the rescue.'
To cause someone to regain consciousness or awareness.
Bring to is usually neutral to semi-formal; used in both spoken and written english, particularly in medical, narrative, and everyday contexts. in register.
Bring to: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈtuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈtuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bring to book (different meaning - to hold accountable)”
- “bring to light”
- “bring to a head”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BRINGing someone TO where you are: awake and conscious. You are bringing their mind back to the present.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONSCIOUSNESS IS A LOCATION (TO WHICH ONE IS BROUGHT). UNCONSCIOUSNESS IS A DISTANT PLACE/STATE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bring to' used CORRECTLY?