bring up
2 meanings
start talking about a topic in a conversation
What does "bring up" mean in this sense?
Examples
- I hate to bring this up, but we still haven't decided on the budget.
- She brought up an interesting point about the deadline during the meeting.
- The issue of overtime pay was brought up by several employees.
How to use it
The most common pattern — a person deliberately introduces a topic, keeping the verb and particle together, especially with longer or heavier noun phrases.
She brought up the question of flexible working hours at the end of the meeting.
With short noun objects, separating the verb and particle is very natural and common.
He finally brought the subject up after weeks of avoiding it.
When the object is a pronoun like 'it', 'this', or 'that', it must go between 'bring' and 'up' — you cannot put it after 'up'.
I'm glad you brought it up — I was thinking the same thing.
The passive form is common and natural, especially in formal or work contexts when the focus is on the topic rather than the person who mentioned it.
Several concerns were brought up during the team review.
Used when introducing a more detailed point or piece of information into a conversation.
She brought up the fact that the project was already over budget.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun (it, this, that, them), it must go between 'bring' and 'up', never after 'up'. This is one of the most frequent mistakes with this verb.
'Bring up' requires a person as the subject who deliberately introduces a topic. 'Come up' is used when a topic arises on its own, without a specific person causing it — it has no object.
'Bring up' always implies that someone chose to mention the topic on purpose. If no one deliberately introduced it, use 'come up' instead.
Usage
Neutral and very common in both conversation and formal meetings. Slightly less formal than 'raise', but appropriate in almost any context. It always implies someone deliberately introduces a topic.
take care of a child until they grow up
Sense 2: What does "bring sb up" mean?
Examples
- Her grandmother brought her up after her parents died.
- He was brought up in a small village in Wales and didn't move to the city until he was eighteen.
- It's not easy to bring up three children on a single income.
How to use it
The most common active pattern, where the caregiver is the subject and the child or children is the object.
Her aunt brought up four children on her own after her sister moved abroad.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'bring' and 'up', never after 'up'.
His grandparents brought him up in a small town in the countryside.
The passive is very natural and common, often used to describe someone's background, location, or circumstances of upbringing.
She was brought up by her uncle in a quiet village near the coast.
Used to describe a value or behaviour that was taught during childhood.
We were brought up to respect our teachers and our neighbours.
A fixed expression used as an adjective to describe someone who was raised with good manners and values.
Everyone commented on how polite the children were — they were clearly very well brought up.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go between 'bring' and 'up'. Placing it after 'up' is ungrammatical in English.
'Bring up' is used with the caregiver as the subject ('Her mum brought her up'), while 'grow up' is used with the child as the subject ('She grew up in London'). Mixing up the two gives the wrong meaning.
In this parenting sense, 'bring up' always needs a person as its object — you cannot use it without one. A child or group of children must be mentioned.
Usage
'Bring up' is equally common in British and American English for this meaning, though Americans also frequently use 'raise'. The expression 'well brought up' (meaning well-mannered) is a very useful fixed phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'bring up' always mean talking about a topic? I've seen it used in other ways.
No, 'bring up' has a few different meanings depending on the context and object. The object tells you which sense is meant: a topic, issue, or question means someone is introducing it for discussion, which is this sense. Other senses are handled separately on this platform.
Can I use 'bring up' in a work email or formal writing?
Yes, but 'bring up' is slightly more conversational than 'raise', which is its more formal equivalent. In a formal email or report, 'raise an issue' or 'raise a concern' might sound more polished. In most everyday work contexts, though, 'bring up' is perfectly appropriate.
Is 'I'm glad you brought that up' a common expression?
Yes, it's a very common conversational phrase used to welcome or acknowledge a topic someone has introduced. You'll hear it often in meetings, interviews, and discussions when someone wants to show they think the point is important.
Can 'bring up' be used in the past continuous — like 'she was bringing up the issue'?
This sounds unnatural in most situations. 'Bring up' describes a single, deliberate act of mentioning something, so it doesn't usually describe an ongoing action. Stick to forms like the past simple ('she brought up the issue') or present perfect ('she has brought up the issue').
What kinds of things can you 'bring up'?
The object is almost always a discussion topic of some kind — for example, an issue, a concern, a subject, a point, a question, a problem, or a suggestion. You can also use 'bring up the fact that...' or 'bring up the idea that...' to introduce more specific information.
Can 'bring up' be used in the passive?
Yes — the passive is actually very common with this phrasal verb and sounds completely natural. You will often hear and read sentences like 'He was brought up by his grandparents' or 'She was brought up in a religious household'. It is one of the most useful ways to talk about someone's background.
What is the difference between 'bring up' and 'raise'?
'Raise' is a single-word verb with the same meaning as 'bring up' in this sense. Both are neutral and widely used, but 'raise' is slightly more common in American English, while 'bring up' is equally common in British English. In most contexts, you can use either one.
Does 'bring up' always mean to raise a child? I've heard it used differently.
'Bring up' has more than one meaning. In this sense, the object is always a person — a child or children. When 'bring up' is used with a topic or issue as the object (e.g. 'She brought up the problem at the meeting'), it means something completely different. Context and the type of object make the meaning clear.
Can I say 'I am bringing up my children' in the present continuous?
It is grammatically possible, but it sounds a little unusual. Because raising a child is a long-term situation rather than something happening right now, English speakers usually prefer the present simple: 'I bring up my children alone' or 'I'm raising my children alone'. The present continuous works better in more specific, temporary situations.
What does 'well brought up' mean?
'Well brought up' is a fixed expression used to describe someone who was raised with good manners, respect for others, and strong values. For example, 'The guests were impressed — the children were so well brought up.' It is always used in the passive form and cannot easily be changed to an active version.
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