The word “briefly” is commonly used in the English language to indicate that something is being said or done in a concise or short manner. It is often used in both formal and informal settings to convey a sense of brevity and clarity.
Definitions
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “briefly” is defined as “in a concise or summarized manner; in a few words.” Other definitions of the word include “for a short time,” “in a brief manner,” and “in a nutshell.”
Origin
The word “briefly” has its origins in the Old French word “brief,” which means “short.” It was first used in the English language in the 14th century, and has since become a common adverb used to indicate brevity.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In addition to the Oxford English Dictionary, other dictionaries also define “briefly” in similar ways. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “in a concise manner,” while the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “for a short time, or using only a few words.”
Associations
The word “briefly” is often associated with the idea of brevity, conciseness, and clarity. It is commonly used in academic and professional settings to indicate that a speaker or writer is summarizing information or providing a brief overview of a topic.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for “briefly,” including “concisely,” “succinctly,” “in a nutshell,” and “in short.” These words are often used interchangeably with “briefly” to convey the same sense of brevity and clarity.
Antonyms
The antonyms of “briefly” include words such as “lengthily,” “prolixly,” and “tediously.” These words indicate the opposite of brevity and are often used to describe someone who is long-winded or overly verbose.
The same root words
The word “briefly” shares its root with other words in the English language, including “brief,” “brevity,” and “abridge.” All of these words are related to the idea of being short or concise, and are commonly used in a variety of contexts.
Example Sentences
- “Can you briefly summarize the main points of your presentation?”.
- “I’ll be speaking briefly on the topic of climate change.”
- “In short, we need to find a way to reduce our carbon emissions.”
- “She spoke concisely and to the point, summarizing the key findings of her research.”
- “The report was abridged to make it more accessible to a wider audience.”