bryan

bryan — noun

1. a famous American politician and lawyer of the late 1800s and early 1900s who wa

1.nounB2
Definition

a famous American politician and lawyer of the late 1800s and early 1900s who was a leading voice for farmers and workers, ran for U.S. president three times, and later served as Secretary of State.

Example

Ayesha wrote a school report about William Jennings Bryan and his three presidential campaigns.

about [person] for describing someone's life and work

The town where Bryan was born now has a small museum about his political career.

Common collocations
  • Bryan + ran for president
  • Bryan + served as [role]
  • Bryan + gave + speech
  • Bryan + argued + that-clause
  • Bryan + campaigned for

Usage Note

This sense refers to the specific historical figure William Jennings Bryan. In modern American English, the surname 'Bryan' alone is often sufficient to identify him in historical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Bryan was the president of the United States.
Bryan ran for president three times but never won.
He was a presidential candidate, not a president.

2. a city in the southern United States, located in east central Texas near the lar

2.nounB1
Definition

a city in the southern United States, located in east central Texas near the larger city of College Station, with a population of about 76,000 people.

Example

Andrei drove from Bryan to College Station every day for his classes at the university.

from [city] to [city] — directional phrase with proper nouns

The population of Bryan has grown by nearly twenty percent since the year 2010.

population of [city] + has grown by [percentage]

Common collocations
  • downtown Bryan
  • the city of Bryan
  • Bryan, Texas
  • Bryan + College Station
  • in Bryan

Usage Note

Bryan forms a twin-city area with neighboring College Station, home to Texas A&M University. Americans typically specify 'Bryan, Texas' when the context is unclear.

Common Mistakes

I flew directly to Bryan.
I flew into College Station and drove to Bryan.
The city has no major commercial airport; travelers use nearby airports.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Bryan and College Station are neighboring cities in east central Texas that together form a metropolitan area often called 'Bryan-College Station.' Bryan is the older of the two, founded in the 1870s and named after William Jennings Bryan. College Station grew up around Texas A&M University, founded in 1876, and is larger today with more student housing and campus life. Bryan has a more historic downtown district with older buildings, while College Station is dominated by the university and newer commercial development. Visitors often use 'College Station' for the airport and university events, and 'Bryan' for government services and historic attractions.

Bryan ↗College Station

Etymology

Old CelticIrishEnglish

The name Bryan comes from an Irish surname, a variant of Brian, which traces back to the Old Celtic word 'brīǵ' meaning 'high' or 'noble.' The city in Texas was named after William Jennings Bryan, the politician and orator, when it was founded in the 1870s as a stop on the railroad line between Houston and Dallas.