briefly
BREEF-lee
Briefly (adv) means For a short time. Example: “The manager spoke briefly to the staff before opening the doors.”
adv
1
For a short time.
"The manager spoke briefly to the staff before opening the doors."
"She briefly considered quitting her job."
"The sun came out briefly before the rain returned."
2
In a few words; concisely.
"Briefly, the plan is to repair the roof first and paint later."
"Could you explain briefly how the machine works?"
"Let me briefly summarize what we discussed."
How to use briefly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFor a short time, or in few words.
Common pairings
briefly discuss
briefly mentioned
to put it briefly
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more briefly
- Superlative
- most briefly
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The manager spoke _____ to the staff before opening the doors.
Etymology
From brief plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for briefly
See all rhymes for briefly →Frequently asked questions
What does “briefly” mean?
The word “briefly” means for a short time. In plain terms, for a short time, or in few words.
How do you pronounce “briefly”?
“Briefly” is pronounced BREEF-lee (/ˈbɹiːfli/ in IPA).
How do you use “briefly” in a sentence?
Here is “briefly” used in a sentence: “She briefly considered quitting her job.”
What is another word for “briefly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “briefly” include summarily, temporarily and transiently.
What part of speech is “briefly”?
“Briefly” is an adverb.
Is “briefly” a common word?
“Briefly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “briefly” have?
“Briefly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: for a short time.
What is the difference between "briefly" and "shortly"?
"Briefly" describes doing something for a short time or in few words, focusing on brevity of duration or expression. "Shortly" usually means "soon," so "she spoke briefly" means she spoke for a short time, while "she will arrive shortly" means she will arrive soon.
When should you use "briefly" instead of "concisely"?
Both can mean "in a few words," but "briefly" also covers short duration, whereas "concisely" refers only to expressing something clearly in as few words as possible. Use "briefly" for time ("he paused briefly") and either word for compact wording.
Where does "briefly" go in a sentence?
As an adverb, "briefly" can open a sentence to flag a short summary ("Briefly, here's what happened") or sit beside the verb it modifies ("she briefly explained the plan"). Placing it first often signals that a quick summary follows.
Can "briefly" describe both time and manner?
Yes. It can mean "for a short time," as in "the sun appeared briefly," and "in a few words," as in "he answered briefly." Context makes clear which sense applies.
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