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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

brag

brag

Brag (verb) means to talk about your own achievements, possessions, or abilities with excessive pride. Example: “He never misses a chance to brag about his new car.”

verb
1
To talk about your own achievements, possessions, or abilities with excessive pride.
"He never misses a chance to brag about his new car."
"She bragged for an hour about her holiday without asking anyone else a single question."

How to use brag

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo boast, usually in a way that comes across as arrogant or self-important.

Common mistake

Brag is generally negative or self-important in tone; "boast" can sometimes be used more neutrally, as in "the town boasts a fine cathedral."

Common pairings
brag about brag rights nothing to brag about

Word forms

bragger comparative, more brag comparative, bragged past tense, brags singular, braggest superlative, most brag superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He never misses a chance to _____ about his new car.

Etymology

From Middle English braggen ("to speak boastfully"), of uncertain origin, possibly linked to an Old Norse word meaning "best" or "foremost."

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Rhymes for brag

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Frequently asked questions

What does “brag” mean?

The word “brag” means to talk about your own achievements, possessions, or abilities with excessive pride. In plain terms, to boast, usually in a way that comes across as arrogant or self-important.

How do you pronounce “brag”?

“Brag” is pronounced brag (/bɹæɡ/ in IPA).

How do you use “brag” in a sentence?

Here is “brag” used in a sentence: “He never misses a chance to brag about his new car.”

What part of speech is “brag”?

“Brag” is a verb.

Where does the word “brag” come from?

The word “brag” comes from Middle English. From Middle English braggen ("to speak boastfully"), of uncertain origin, possibly linked to an Old Norse word meaning "best" or "foremost.".

Is “brag” a common word?

“Brag” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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