B2adjective1K

Brief

UK /["/briːf/"]/US /["/briːf/"]/

Definition

lasting only a short time; short

In simple words: Short in time, length, or amount.

Examples

  • The presentation was brief, lasting only fifteen minutes.
  • She gave a brief summary of the main points.
  • He likes to keep his emails brief to save time.
  • The brief pause in the conversation allowed her to think.
  • Please provide a brief explanation of your project.

Usage notes

Use 'brief' when something is short or concise. It is appropriate for both written and spoken contexts but should be avoided in overly formal situations where detailed explanations are preferred.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'brief' as 'breathe fast'—you quickly grasp it!

Collocations

  • be
  • keep something
  • make something
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • keep something
  • make something
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • concise
  • short
  • summary
  • succinct
  • terse

Antonyms

  • long
  • extended
  • prolonged

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'breif', a common misspelling.
  • Using it in contexts that require more detail.
  • Saying 'more brief' instead of 'briefer'.