Meaning & use
brief
Lasting only a short time, or expressed in few words.
See it in a sentence
The meeting was brief, lasting only about ten minutes before everyone returned to work.
She gave a brief summary of the report instead of reading it in full.
A note on using this word
Brief suggests both shortness and fitting conciseness, unlike 'short,' which is neutral about whether the length is appropriate.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A document that summarizes the facts and legal arguments of a case, prepared for a court.
The lawyer filed a brief arguing that the contract had been breached.
3. verb
To give someone essential information or instructions before an event or task.
The pilot briefed the crew on the flight plan before takeoff.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “brief”, then compare your use with the examples above.