1
: an overhanging member that projects from a structure (such as a wall) and is usually designed to support a vertical load or to strengthen an angle
2
: a fixture (as for holding a lamp) projecting from a wall or column
3
a
: one of a pair of marks [ ] used in writing and printing to enclose matter or in mathematics and logic as signs of aggregation
called also square bracket
b
: one of the pair of marks 〈 〉 used to enclose matter
called also angle bracket
d
4
: a section of a continuously numbered or graded series (such as age ranges or income levels)
5
: a pairing of opponents in an elimination tournament
bracketed; bracketing; brackets
1
a
: to place within or as if within brackets
editorial comments are bracketed
news stories bracketed by commercials
b
: to eliminate from consideration
bracket off politics
c
: to extend around so as to encompass : include
test pressures … which bracket virtually the entire range of passenger-car tire pressures—
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports2
: to furnish or fasten with brackets
3
: to put in the same category or group
bracketed in a tie for third
4
a
: to get the range on (a target) by firing over and short
b
: to establish the limits of
bracketed the problem neatly
c
: to take photographs of at more than one exposure in order to ensure that the desired exposure is obtained
Synonyms
Examples of bracket in a Sentence
Noun
The shelf is held up with two brackets.
There are wall brackets in the garage for the rakes and shovels.
She is taller than average for her age bracket.
He earned enough to put him in a higher tax bracket.
She is now in a lower income bracket than before.
Verb
I wouldn't exactly bracket your paintings with those of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Recent Examples on the Web
Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 17 Nov. 2024
Latinos are increasingly independent Latinos in the 18- to 29-year-old age bracket tend to lean left but register as independent and are less likely to commit to a political party than some of their elders.
—Astrid Galván, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Poles taller than 8 feet need to be bracketed into a wall for stability, but unlike similar products, Freestyle can accommodate ceilings up to 12 feet high.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bracket 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The legislation was scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, which would have ushered in tax brackets as high as 39.6%, compared with 37% today.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 17 Nov. 2024
Latinos are increasingly independent Latinos in the 18- to 29-year-old age bracket tend to lean left but register as independent and are less likely to commit to a political party than some of their elders.
—Astrid Galván, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Her head is bracketed by puffy, white noise-cancelling headphones.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Poles taller than 8 feet need to be bracketed into a wall for stability, but unlike similar products, Freestyle can accommodate ceilings up to 12 feet high.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bracket
Articles Related to bracket
Dictionary Entries Near bracket
Cite this Entry
“Bracket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bracket. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bracket
1 of 2 noun
brack·et
ˈbrak-ət 
1
: a support for a shelf or other weight usually attached to a wall
2
: a short wall shelf
3
a
: one of a pair of marks [ ] used to enclose words or mathematical symbols to be taken together
called also square bracket
b
: one of a pair of marks 〈 〉
—used to enclose written or printed matter
called also angle bracket
4
: class entry 1 sense 3a, group
especially
: one of a series of groups sorted according to income
5
: a pairing of opponents in an elimination tournament
bracket
2 of 2 verb1
: to place within or as if within brackets
2
: to put into the same class : associate
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