in brief

Idioms  

1. Also, in short; in a word. Concisely, in few words, to sum up. All three phrases usually precede or follow a summary statement, as in In brief, we didn't get much out of his speech, or There was no agenda; in short, they could discuss whatever they wanted to, or The sun was shining, the sky was clear—in a word, it was a beautiful day. The first expression dates from the early 1400s; in short dates from the 1300s but the present usage dates from the 1700s; the hyperbolic in a word (since there is nearly always more than one word) dates from the late 1500s.

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Example Sentences

In wet winters, the valleys beyond town awaken in color as sand verbena, desert sunflower, evening primrose and pincushion gather in brief, luminous blooms across the desert floor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Still, she has been tracking the strike from afar, and speaking in brief bursts with sources inside the country.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2026

"No meeting is scheduled. The French presidency is willing to hold one," Macron told AFP in brief remarks after he delivered a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

Both companies, in brief statements, say they are in talks on a merger that could lead to Rio buying shares of Glencore in an all-stock deal.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

Mother Ermentrude summons me and in brief terms informs me of the decision.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein