brief 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbrēf How to pronounce brief (audio)
Definition of briefnext
1
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet

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2
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time fortunately, the meeting was brief

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flash
lasting only for a short time a brief flash of light

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brief

2 of 3

noun

1
as in summary
a short statement of the main points a one-page brief of the intelligence report

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2
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks

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brief

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to inform
to give information to the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report) his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brief
Adjective
But for one lucky traveler this weekend, a brief stop at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) turned into a life-changing event. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 The Bongino Report, the website of the right-wing firebrand who would eventually serve a brief term as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, claimed that Check My Ads was violating tax rules. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Noun
In the three years since it’s been filed, the lawsuit has been inching along, with both sides trading briefs and appeals, Ron Zambrano, a lawyer for the three women, said in an interview. — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 Fox gave attorneys for the Democrat-Gazette until July 6 to file a brief about whether Pulaski County Circuit Court is the proper place to hear the case. — Arkansas Online, 29 June 2026
Verb
Fox Sports will move its main studio team on the road for the final two weeks of the World Cup, starting July 4 when the round of 16 begins, sources briefed on the network’s plans told The Athletic. — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 29 June 2026 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will have their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the security plans. — Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for brief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brief
  1. concise
  2. short
  3. flash
  4. summary
  5. mission
  6. inform
  7. summarize
  8. little
Adjective
  • Donna Kelce, mother of Travis and Jason, gave a concise reaction to the wedding while speaking with Macy's at the company's Fourth of July event in New York.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Then, when regular channels deny your claim, send a polite, concise email to the company’s executives.
    — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of concise
Adjective
  • One of the easiest make-ahead dishes is a stir-fry, and a short ingredient list adds to its appeal.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026
  • This short-sleeve tee is wrinkle-resistant and has a crew neckline.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • In fact, the weather service said that more than 50% of flash-flood deaths happen in vehicles driven into floodwaters.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 June 2026
  • Don’t miss Alcopop’s Black Mango Watermelon, Seongju Chamoe and Watermelon Ice Pop; Matcha Latte, with flash-frozen local herbs and a hand-cut ice diamond; and Journey, a concoction that maps a tomato’s global odyssey.
    — Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of flash
Noun
  • Although the court livestreams the audio of oral arguments, that’s not the case for the summaries the justices give of their opinions.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The three liberal justices dissented as to the Equal Protection Clause, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor read a summary of her dissent from the bench.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of summary
Noun
  • Their 10-day mission around the moon and back to Earth began with the roaring ignition of SLS's four RS-25 engines and two massive solid rocket boosters (SRBs).
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • The video explores how robotic missions, lunar resources, nuclear power, and advanced spacecraft systems are laying the foundation for future human missions.
    — Paid Content by Lockheed Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of mission
Verb
  • Emergency responders arrived on the scene and were informed that the victim had been pulled by the current flowing through Sebonac Creek into the Great Peconic Bay, the statement said.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • The company also informed members about 2026 premium changes through phone calls, text messages, regular mail, or email, Baiocchi said.
    — Susan Jaffe, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • Large language models can summarize sentiment, identify recurring themes and use guest feedback to shape recommendations.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Why Lawrence, Kansas ranks high The article goes into the history of Lawrence, summarizing the establishment of the town by abolitionists, political violence, and being a stop for the Underground Railroad.
    — Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of summarize
Adjective
  • Selena Gomez took the little black dress to a new level ahead of longtime friend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
    — Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • That little green or yellow can in the grocery store that boasts pictures of pears, cherries, grapes, and other fruit on the label?
    — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of little

Phrases Containing brief

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bridling
brief
briefcase
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Cite this Entry

“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brief. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brief

Nglish: Translation of brief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brief

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