MEANING
To wave or hold something up in an emphatic, threatening, or conspicuous way.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- brandish a weapon
- brandish a document
On the page
He brandished the unsigned contract as though it were a warrant.
A guard brandished a baton without stepping closer.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- brandish
- Past tense
- brandished
- Past participle
- brandished
- Present participle
- brandishing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- brandish
- Present continuous
- am/is/are brandishing
- Present perfect
- have/has brandished
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been brandishing
- Past
- brandished
- Past continuous
- was/were brandishing
- Past perfect
- had brandished
- Past perfect continuous
- had been brandishing
- Future
- will brandish
- Future continuous
- will be brandishing
- Future perfect
- will have brandished
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been brandishing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: brandish; brandishes; brandished; brandished; brandishing Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: brandishes.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.