bride

noun

ˈbrīd How to pronounce bride (audio)
Synonyms of bridenext
: a woman just married or about to be married

Examples of bride in a Sentence

the mother of the bride
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the other is a wealthier bride shopping for diverse silhouettes for her multiple events, her entire wardrobe customized by the country’s top designers. — CNN Money, 30 July 2026 Frausto and Maguire eloped in La Jolla on June 10, 2026 with a ceremony including just the bride and groom, and their photographer and officiant. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026 The couple’s wedding was a Roberts family reunion, with the bride’s aunt Julia and several other relatives in attendance. — Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Emma’s entourage gathered for the bride to make her big reveal in her wedding gown. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bride

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English brȳd; akin to Old High German brūt bride

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bride was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing bride

Rhymes for bride

See All Rhymes for bride

Browse Nearby Words

bridal wreath
bride
bride's basket
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bride. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

bride

noun
ˈbrīd How to pronounce bride (audio)
: a woman just married or about to be married

More from Merriam-Webster on bride

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bride

Nglish: Translation of bride for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bride

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All