brother

A boy or man who has one or both parents in common with you.

• My brother is ten.
• Her two brothers live nearby.
• Is he your older brother?

Similar words: male sibling

Common phrases: older brother, younger brother, twin brother

A male member of the same religious community, union, or similar group.

• The brothers live in a monastery.
• Brother Paul welcomed us to the church.
• Our union brothers supported us during the strike.

Similar words: fellow member

Common phrases: brother in faith, union brother, religious brother

A person seen as your equal or as sharing a close human bond with you.

• He treated every stranger as a brother.
• We stood together as brothers in the struggle for freedom.
• She called the fellow campaigner her brother in spirit.

Similar words: fellow, comrade, companion

Common phrases: fellow brother, brother in arms, brother in struggle

To treat someone with the care and closeness you would show a male family member.

• He brothered the lonely stranger.
• They brothered him despite their differences.
• She brothered the young traveler with warmth and kindness.

Similar words: befriend

Common phrases: brother someone, brother a stranger

You say this when something annoys you or seems very silly.

• Oh, brother! The printer has stopped again.
• Oh, brother! Another meeting about meetings.
• Oh, brother! Do we really need to hear that story again?

Similar words: good grief, oh dear

Common phrases: oh brother, oh brother again