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Definition of briefly

briefly

/ˈbriːf.li/
brief · ly
Adjective:brief
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briefly Lexical Profile

briefly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

For a short time; momentarily.

Example

"The sun appeared briefly from behind the heavy rain clouds before vanishing again."

2

In few words; concisely and without unnecessary detail.

Example

"The professor briefly outlined the main themes of the lecture before opening the floor to questions."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for briefly

• Nearby Words

brief
briefcase
briefing
briefly
briefness
briefs
brier

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the adjective 'brief' (derived via Old French from Latin 'brevis', meaning 'short') combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Briefly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/briefly
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