How to Use briefly in a Sentence

briefly

adverb
  • We briefly considered canceling the trip.
  • Please briefly describe your experience.
  • Several important issues are only briefly mentioned.
  • Her star shined brightly but briefly.
    — Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Stir briefly and garnish with a lemon peel.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026
  • If gold prices spike briefly, some buyers widen spreads.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Dart appeared to go limp briefly and then was slow to get up.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Deyo looked away briefly while at the dog park and then Mya was gone.
    — Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2023
  • Rich Sparkle’s shares briefly popped, and have since plunged from the highs.
    — Steven Bertoni, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • We have been briefly told [by police] about some glass around his body.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2023
  • Say each word was a bird—alighting briefly, out of reach and then gone again.
    — Leila Chatti september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • On top of last week’s three-turnover game, he was booed, briefly but loudly.
    — Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Bosa left briefly with a head injury but was cleared to return.
    — Josh Dubow, ajc, 20 Dec. 2021
  • Chiles, waiting to speak in the back of the room, shook his head briefly and smirked.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Now, let’s briefly look at the other extreme.
    — Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
  • Hanbeck briefly touched on the art style, saying.
    — George Yang, Space.com, 10 June 2026
  • James Mills, 42, said he was briefly swept away in the floods.
    — Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Behind the late-week cold front, winter may briefly be put on ice.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
  • In the video, Sokolov briefly appears on screen, but does not speak.
    — Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
  • Pause briefly, choose your words with intention, and stay on point.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
  • And so he was briefly imprisoned.
    — ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • There’s no way to avoid thinking, at least briefly, is this a preview?
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
  • The slide catches, carries, and briefly buries him.
    — Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Jan. 2026
  • He was helped to his feet briefly, but was taken off the floor via wheelchair.
    — Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Take a digital detox—even briefly.
    — Jacob Kupietzky, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • She was briefly placed in foster care but soon dropped the charges and returned home.
    — USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
  • His fever broke briefly, some of his lesions improved, and no new ones formed.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
  • In rooms that are you used briefly, like guest rooms, bathrooms, or home offices.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Denegal placed his left hand briefly against Adams’ back, then moved to his left.
    — Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The Dodgers briefly reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'briefly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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