To brag means to talk about yourself or your accomplishments in a way that shows off, making sure everyone knows how great you think you are. When someone brags, they want to impress others and make themselves look superior. A student who brags about getting an A might say, “I got a perfect score and I didn't even study that hard,” trying to impress classmates rather than simply feeling proud.

Bragging feels different from honest pride or excitement. If you worked hard on a science project and tell your friend, “I'm really happy with how it turned out,” that's sharing your joy. But if you announce to everyone in class, “My project is way better than anyone else's,” you're bragging. The difference is in the tone and purpose: bragging tries to make others feel inferior while making yourself look superior.

People who brag a lot are called braggarts or braggers, and they often discover that constant boasting pushes friends away. Nobody enjoys feeling like they're being compared unfavorably to someone else. Interestingly, people who achieve the most impressive things often brag the least, letting their accomplishments speak for themselves.