briefly
Americanadverb
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for a short duration.
He stopped over briefly in Chicago.
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in a few words.
Let me explain briefly.
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in a brief manner; quickly or brusquely.
She nodded briefly and began to speak.
Usage
What does briefly mean? Briefly means for a short amount of time. It can also mean concisely or in a few words, as opposed to in a longer manner, as in State your main argument briefly in a sentence or two. Briefly is the adverb form of the adjective brief, which most commonly means lasting a short time or concise. Because it’s an adverb, briefly is used to describe verbs (actions), as in I briefly considered it, or adjectives, as in The conversation was briefly tense, but then everyone started to get along. Example: It rained briefly, probably only for a few minutes.
Etymology
Origin of briefly
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at brief, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not only does she seize her moment, she even briefly slips into Misty’s old “Red Eye” costume: a Jackie-esque stewardess skirt suit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Free chips briefly flatten the distinction between the appetizers-and-drinks family and the entrées-and-water family.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026
Countless thousands are still in shelters, trying to sleep or waiting to return, however briefly, to their beds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
"I did a lovely film, only a week on it just for additional photography, called The Christophers, with Sir Ian McKellen, who I was very fortunate just to briefly meet," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
If the soldiers came to question him, he would say only that two strangers in need of medical assistance stopped briefly at his farm.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
