What does "bride" mean?
A woman in the context of her own wedding; one who is going to marry or has just been married.
Bride
/bɹaɪd/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A woman in the context of her own wedding; one who is going to marry or has just been married.
- Grammar: bride is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bride of christ, fiancée, groom, mate.
- Useful contrasts: benedict, bridegroom, bridegrooms.
- Usage evidence: Food and drink were served in such profusion at the wedding that the bride and groom began to wonder if they should not have invited more guests.
How to use "bride"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bride" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bride" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bride" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bride" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bride" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bride of christ" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bride", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A woman in the context of her own wedding; one who is going to marry or has just been married.
"I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."
- 2 an individual loop or other device connecting the patterns in lacework
- 3 a woman who has recently been married wordnet
- 4 An object ardently loved. figuratively, obsolete
- 5 a woman participant in her own marriage ceremony wordnet
Verb
- 1 to make a bride of obsolete
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname. countable, uncountable
- 2 A parish of the sheading of Ayre, Isle of Man. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Food and drink were served in such profusion at the wedding that the bride and groom began to wonder if they should not have invited more guests."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bride"?
Common synonyms include: bride of christ, fiancée, groom, mate, spouse of christ, the church.
How do you use "bride" in a sentence?
Food and drink were served in such profusion at the wedding that the bride and groom began to wonder if they should not have invited more guests.
How do you pronounce "bride"?
Pronounced /bɹaɪd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English bride, from Old English brȳd (“bride”), from Proto-West Germanic *brūdi, from Proto-Germanic *brūdiz (“bride”). Cognates Cognate with Yola breede (“bride”), Saterland Frisian Bräid (“bride”), Alemannic German Bruut (“bride”), Central Franconian Brock, Brutt, Bruut (“bride”), Dutch bruid (“bride”), German, Luxembourgish Braut (“bride”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish brud (“bride”), Faroese, Icelandic brúður (“bride”), Norwegian Nynorsk brud, brur (“bride”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌸𐍃 (bruþs, “bride”), French bru (“daughter-in-law”), Friulian brût (“daughter-in-law”) (from Old High German brut (“bride”)).
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French bride (“bridle”).
Etymology 3
* As an Irish and Scottish surname, shortened from McBride. * As an English surname, metathesized from Bird.