bring about

make something happen, especially something good

B2

What does "bring sth about" mean?

To bring about something means to cause a significant change, outcome, or situation to happen — usually through deliberate effort or action. It implies that someone or something acts as a driving force behind a meaningful result, whether that's a social reform, a political shift, or an improvement in conditions. Although the definition highlights positive outcomes, 'bring about' is equally used for neutral or even negative results, such as bringing about someone's downfall or the collapse of a system. It tends to appear in thoughtful, considered contexts — journalism, academic writing, business discussions — rather than very casual conversation. The objects it takes are almost always abstract: things like change, transformation, reform, or peace, not physical objects.

Examples

How to use it

bring about + abstract noun

The most common pattern — an agent causes a broad change or outcome, with the object following the particle unseparated.

The new legislation could bring about significant improvements in air quality.

bring + short noun + about

With short noun objects, separation is natural and both word orders are acceptable.

It took decades of campaigning to bring reform about.

bring + pronoun + about

When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between the verb and the particle.

We all want a fairer system — but how do we actually bring it about?

be brought about by + agent

The passive is very natural, especially when focusing on the result rather than who caused it.

The rapid economic recovery was brought about by a combination of smart policy and public confidence.

aimed at / in order to bring about + noun

Often used in purpose clauses to describe the intended goal of an action or plan.

The organisation launched a campaign aimed at bringing about greater equality in the workplace.

Common Collocations

changetransformationreformpeacecollapseimprovement

Common Mistakes

Separating with long noun phrases

When the object is a long noun phrase, it should stay after 'about' — splitting the verb from a lengthy object sounds unnatural. Keep short objects or pronouns between the two parts, but let longer ones follow 'about' directly.

✗ They hoped to bring a fundamental shift in global trade policy about.
✓ They hoped to bring about a fundamental shift in global trade policy.
Confusing 'bring about' with 'come about'

'Bring about' always needs an agent — someone or something causing the change. 'Come about' is intransitive and describes something that simply happens on its own, with no direct agent pushing it.

✗ The agreement brought about gradually over several months.
✓ The agreement came about gradually over several months. / Negotiators worked hard to bring the agreement about.
Using 'bring about' for physical objects or minor triggers

'Bring about' collocates with abstract nouns representing changes, outcomes, or states of affairs. It sounds unnatural with concrete physical objects, and it shouldn't be used for small-scale triggers like illness — use 'bring on' for those.

✗ The cold weather brought about his headache.
✓ The cold weather brought on his headache. / The cold snap brought about a sharp rise in energy demand.

Usage

Slightly formal and common in academic, journalistic, and business writing. Despite the definition, 'bring about' is used for negative outcomes too (e.g., 'bring about someone's downfall'), not just positive ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'bring about' only be used for positive things?

No — while the definition highlights positive outcomes, 'bring about' is commonly used for neutral and even negative results too. You can say 'bring about someone's downfall' or 'bring about the collapse of a company' without any issue. The key idea is significant, often systemic change caused by an agent, regardless of whether the result is good or bad.

What kinds of nouns go with 'bring about'?

It almost always takes abstract nouns referring to changes, outcomes, or states — words like change, transformation, reform, peace, improvement, collapse, or shift. Using it with concrete, physical objects sounds unnatural, so you wouldn't say 'bring about the package' or anything similar.

Is 'bring about' suitable for academic or professional writing?

Yes — it's actually one of the more common phrasal verbs in academic, journalistic, and business writing. It has a neutral-to-slightly-formal feel, which makes it a strong choice for essays, reports, and editorials where you want to discuss causes and outcomes precisely.

Can I use 'bring about' in continuous tenses?

The present continuous ('is bringing about') and basic progressive forms are natural when describing an ongoing process. However, forms like 'had been bringing about' or 'will have been bringing about' sound overly complicated and are almost never used — stick to simpler tense combinations with this verb.

Does 'bring about' always need a subject doing the causing?

Yes — 'bring about' is always transitive and always implies some kind of agent (a person, group, policy, or force) driving the change. If you want to describe something that happened without emphasising a specific cause, 'come about' is the more natural choice.

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