Brandish: meaning, definitions and examples

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brandish

[ ˈbrandɪʃ ]

^{Context #1}

weapon

Wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

Synonyms

flourish, wave, wield

Examples of usage

He brandished a knife in front of the terrified victim.
The robber brandished a gun, demanding money from the cashier.
The pirate brandished his sword as a warning to the approaching ship.

^{Context #2}

object

Move or swing (something) back and forth.

Synonyms

flourish, shake, swing

Examples of usage

He brandished his pen in the air as he explained his idea.
The conductor brandished his baton to signal the start of the performance.

^{Context #3}

gesture

An aggressive display or movement.

Synonyms

display, gesture, movement

Examples of usage

The politician's brandish of his fist was interpreted as a sign of aggression.
Her brandish of the trophy signaled her victory to the cheering crowd.

Translations

Translations of the word "brandish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 brandir

🇮🇳 लहराना

🇩🇪 schwingen

🇮🇩 mengayunkan

🇺🇦 розмахувати

🇵🇱 wymachiwać

🇯🇵 振り回す

🇫🇷 brandir

🇪🇸 blandir

🇹🇷 sallamak

🇰🇷 휘두르다

🇸🇦 يلوح

🇨🇿 mávnout

🇸🇰 mávať

🇨🇳 挥舞

🇸🇮 mahovati

🇮🇸 veifa

🇰🇿 сермеу

🇬🇪 გაჯავრება

🇦🇿 yelləmək

🇲🇽 blandir

Word origin

The word 'brandish' originated from the Middle English word 'brondishen,' which came from the Old French 'brandiss-' and ultimately from the Latin 'brandīre,' meaning 'to wave or flourish.' The use of 'brandish' in English dates back to the late 14th century, where it was commonly used in the context of waving a weapon or displaying aggressive gestures.

See also: brand, branding, rebrand, rebranding.