brief

brief

adjective

Definition of BRIEF

1

marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning <a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet>

Synonyms aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, capsule, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Related Words abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turned

Near Antonyms pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated

Antonyms circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

2

not lasting for a considerable time <fortunately, the meeting was brief>

Synonyms brief, fast, little

Related Words shortish; abbreviated, abridged, curtailed, cut-back, shortened, syncopated; compact, condensed; abrupt, sudden; ephemeral, fleeting, momentary, short-lived, transient, transitory; impermanent; compendious, concise, crisp, epigrammatic, laconic, pithy, succinct, summary, terse; short-range, short-term

Near Antonyms endless, everlasting, interminable, persistent, unending; longish, overlong, prolonged, protracted; permanent; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; long-range, long-term

Antonyms extended, far, great, lengthy, long, long-drawn-out (or long-drawn), long-lived

3

lasting only for a short time <a brief flash of light>

Synonyms brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory

Related Words little, short, shortish; acting, interim, provisional, short-term

Near Antonyms lifelong; continuing, durable, persistent; imperishable, indefectible, indestructible

Antonyms ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending