brief

[ breef ]

/ brif /

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See synonyms for: brief / briefed / briefer / briefing on Thesaurus.com

adjective, brief·er, brief·est.

lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.

using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.

abrupt or curt.

scanty: a brief bathing suit.

noun

a short and concise statement or written item.

an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy: a debater's brief.

Law.

a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
a written argument submitted to a court.
(in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.

an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.

briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.

a briefing.

Roman Catholic Church. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope's signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.

British Theater. a free ticket; pass.

Obsolete. a letter.

verb (used with object)

to make an abstract or summary of.

to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.

Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.

OTHER WORDS FOR brief

1 short-lived, fleeting, transitory, ephemeral, transient.

2 terse, compact, pithy, condensed.

5 outline, précis, epitome, abstract.

14 summarize, outline.

See synonyms for brief on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about brief

hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.

in brief, in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.

Origin of brief

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bref, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin brevis “short”; see breve

synonym study for brief

1. See short. 5. See summary.

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

briefer, nounbriefness, nounun·brief, adjectiveun·brief·ly, adverb

un·brief·ness, nounun·briefed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use brief in a sentence

There is even a brief chapter in which Bezos explains why he bought The Washington Post.
Jeff Bezos’s thoughts on Big Business, outer space and The Washington Post|James Ledbetter|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
As he disarmingly and frankly acknowledges, little is certain beyond that the fire started near the Circus Maximus and, with a brief respite, burned for nine days.
What was Nero really doing while Rome burned?|Diana Preston|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
For that brief moment last Sunday, it appeared his rise was going to include his first NFL touchdown, as he hurdled Detroit Lions cornerback Justin Coleman just a few yards from the goal line.
For undrafted NFL rookies, the odds were even longer this year. Isaiah Wright made it anyway.|Sam Fortier|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
When Knox appealed a second time to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Janet Reno filed her own brief arguing that the appeals court had ruled properly — a highly unusual departure from the argument of her own solicitor general.
Drew S. Days III, first African American to lead civil rights division at Justice Department, dies at 79|Emily Langer|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

RaceAhead is back after a brief hiatus and will return to a normal schedule next week.
Reflecting an election without end|Ellen McGirt|November 13, 2020|Fortune
He did not mention rectal feeding, but perhaps he was not fully briefed.
The Media's Pro-Torture Cheerleaders|Jedediah Purdy|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the early days of the program, CIA officials briefed the leadership of the House Intelligence Committee.
The Most Gruesome Moments in the CIA ‘Torture Report’|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So a well-briefed and disciplined nominee could change things.
The Coming Battle for a New SecDef|Michael Tomasky|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
White House officials briefed reporters that afternoon on the failed mission.
Foley Family to White House: You Saved Bergdahl. Why Not Our Son?|Eli Lake|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One source briefed on the incident said multiple FSA fighters were killed in the attack.
Exclusive: America’s Allies Almost Bombed in Syrian Airstrikes|Josh Rogin|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yesterday evening I was briefed to defend a political prisoner before the Deputy Commissioner.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Ripley briefed the general situation as it stood on the night of the engine theft in a few terse sentences.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde
Of these eighty-nine cases three are clearly misquotations — for Pascal was badly briefed.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
At one o'clock Tom briefed the flight crews and technicians.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X|Victor Appleton
The tale of the years succeeding may be briefed in a bare sentence or two.
The Quickening|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for brief

brief

/ (briːf) /

adjective

short in durationa brief holiday

short in length or extent; scantya brief bikini

abrupt in manner; brusquethe professor was brief with me this morning

terse or concise; containing few wordshe made a brief statement

noun

a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract

law a document containing all the facts and points of law of a case by which a solicitor instructs a barrister to represent a client

RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief

short for briefing

a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate

British slang a lawyer, esp a barrister

hold a brief for to argue for; champion

in brief in short; to sum up

verb (tr)

to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts

to make a summary or synopsis of

English law

to instruct (a barrister) by brief
to retain (a barrister) as counsel

(intr foll by against) to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etcSee also briefs

Derived forms of brief

briefly, adverbbriefness, noun

Word Origin for brief

C14: from Old French bref, from Latin brevis; related to Greek brakhus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with brief

brief

see hold no brief for; in brief.

brief

OTHER WORDS FOR brief

Idioms about brief

Origin of brief

synonym study for brief

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

Words related to brief

How to use brief in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for brief

Derived forms of brief

Word Origin for brief

Other Idioms and Phrases with brief