1
: short in duration, extent, or length
a brief meeting
briefness
noun
1
a
: an official letter or mandate (see mandate entry 1 sense 1)
b
: a specific instruction or responsibility
his brief was to strengthen the army
2
3
: an outline of an argument
especially, law
: a formal written presentation of an argument that sets forth the main points with supporting precedents and evidence
a legal brief
filed a brief
4
briefed; briefing; briefs
1
: to make an abstract or abridgment of
brief a report
summarized northeastern Siberian archaeology and has briefed many normally unavailable sources—
Wendell Oswalt
Wendell Oswalt2
a
: to give final precise instructions to
were briefed before their mission
b
: to coach thoroughly in advance
c
: to give essential information to
The president is being briefed by his advisors.
3
: to discuss (something, such as a military operation) in a briefing
briefed the mission
briefer
noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- aphoristic
- apothegmatic
- capsule
- compact
- compendious
- concise
- crisp
- curt
- elliptical
- elliptic
- epigrammatic
- laconic
- monosyllabic
- pithy
- sententious
- succinct
- summary
- telegraphic
- terse
- thumbnail
Noun
- abstract
- breviary
- capsule
- conspectus
- digest
- encapsulation
- epitome
- inventory
- outline
- précis
- recap
- recapitulation
- résumé
- resume
- resumé
- roundup
- run-through
- rundown
- sum
- sum-up
- summa
- summarization
- summary
- summing-up
- synopsis
- wrap-up
Verb
Examples of brief in a Sentence
Adjective
The meeting will be brief.
The essay is brief but thorough enough.
a few brief words of caution
Noun
Her brief is to manage the company's sales department.
a one-page brief of the intelligence report
Verb
The captain briefed the crew on the new safety procedures.
The President has been briefed by his advisers.
Recent Examples on the WebGil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
Popular on Variety Speaking to Variety, Weigert says her seamstress character’s motivation in life has always been to nurture, and witnessing her husband’s wilting health during their brief meetings is a call to action.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Here's a brief history of how these communities came about.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 18 Apr. 2024
Except for a brief decline earlier this week, Tesla last fell below $500 billion at its previous 52-week low in April 2023.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
Although the robot does not have facial features, the few seconds of engagement with the cameraman can be counted as a brief conversation.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
For anyone who came of age in the late nineties and still recalls the moment in which grunge (fading) and pop-punk (ascendant) had a brief but potent sartorial collision, the look of the Guts tour, both onstage and off, will feel deeply familiar.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
The sheriff's department told CBS News after a brief search that the suspect had been taken into custody.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2024
In it, after a brief discussion of philosophy and technique, Perrone details about a hundred Connaught Bar originals, with instructions to make them at home.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Out of 200 cities with populations similar to that of Grants Pass, more than 80% do not ban sleeping on all public property, at all times, according to amicus briefs.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
His goal would be to file the appellate brief sometime this summer.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Justices have in the past missed oral arguments but still participate in cases based on the briefs filed and transcripts.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Butler County, Ohio Butler County Emergency Management Agency posted on Facebook standard weather briefs outlining the potential for severe weather.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
As our new policy brief explains, Canada’s most populous province and a prominent Australian state show what is possible when pharmacists can use their training to serve patients fully.
—Jeffrey Singer, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
That sort of forward-thinking environmentalism has been part of our brief since 1863.
—Megan Amram, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The officer leaped over the K-rail to avoid being hit, according to the trial brief.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Matt Bradley, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
But the administration official who briefed reporters Sunday cast doubt on such a calculation.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
General Motors General Motors plans to move its iconic Detroit headquarters to a new downtown office tower and redevelop its home office site, a person briefed on the plans said.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran readies missiles for potential attack, US official says
Iran has been observed preparing cruise missiles for use in a potential attack on Israel, according to a U.S. official briefed on the matter.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
President Biden returned to the White House ahead of schedule from Delaware Saturday afternoon to be briefed by top national security advisers.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
The main pilot had more than a decade of experience and intimate knowledge of Baltimore’s ship channels, according to Clay Diamond, executive director of the American Pilots’ Association, who has been briefed on their actions.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
The White House briefed dozens of online creators on President Biden’s State of the Union address ahead of the speech.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Biden addresses Key Bridge collapse after briefing Kyla Guilfoil
Biden was briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge this morning by senior members of his team, according to a post to his X account.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Betts suffered a mild stroke in August 2018 after a brief return to the road in 2018 with a band that included his son, Duane.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
Popular on Variety Speaking to Variety, Weigert says her seamstress character’s motivation in life has always been to nurture, and witnessing her husband’s wilting health during their brief meetings is a call to action.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Here's a brief history of how these communities came about.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 18 Apr. 2024
Except for a brief decline earlier this week, Tesla last fell below $500 billion at its previous 52-week low in April 2023.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
Although the robot does not have facial features, the few seconds of engagement with the cameraman can be counted as a brief conversation.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
For anyone who came of age in the late nineties and still recalls the moment in which grunge (fading) and pop-punk (ascendant) had a brief but potent sartorial collision, the look of the Guts tour, both onstage and off, will feel deeply familiar.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
The sheriff's department told CBS News after a brief search that the suspect had been taken into custody.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2024
In it, after a brief discussion of philosophy and technique, Perrone details about a hundred Connaught Bar originals, with instructions to make them at home.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
In a friend-of-the-court brief, Los Angeles City Atty.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Out of 200 cities with populations similar to that of Grants Pass, more than 80% do not ban sleeping on all public property, at all times, according to amicus briefs.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
His goal would be to file the appellate brief sometime this summer.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Justices have in the past missed oral arguments but still participate in cases based on the briefs filed and transcripts.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Butler County, Ohio Butler County Emergency Management Agency posted on Facebook standard weather briefs outlining the potential for severe weather.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
As our new policy brief explains, Canada’s most populous province and a prominent Australian state show what is possible when pharmacists can use their training to serve patients fully.
—Jeffrey Singer, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
That sort of forward-thinking environmentalism has been part of our brief since 1863.
—Megan Amram, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The officer leaped over the K-rail to avoid being hit, according to the trial brief.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
In a measure of the Middle East’s new realignment, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates shared intelligence about Iranian plans with the U.S. after they were briefed on them to safeguard their airspace, as first reported on Monday by The Wall Street Journal.
—Matt Bradley, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
But the administration official who briefed reporters Sunday cast doubt on such a calculation.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
General Motors General Motors plans to move its iconic Detroit headquarters to a new downtown office tower and redevelop its home office site, a person briefed on the plans said.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran readies missiles for potential attack, US official says
Iran has been observed preparing cruise missiles for use in a potential attack on Israel, according to a U.S. official briefed on the matter.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
President Biden returned to the White House ahead of schedule from Delaware Saturday afternoon to be briefed by top national security advisers.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
The main pilot had more than a decade of experience and intimate knowledge of Baltimore’s ship channels, according to Clay Diamond, executive director of the American Pilots’ Association, who has been briefed on their actions.
—William Wan, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
The White House briefed dozens of online creators on President Biden’s State of the Union address ahead of the speech.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Biden addresses Key Bridge collapse after briefing Kyla Guilfoil
Biden was briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge this morning by senior members of his team, according to a post to his X account.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brief.' 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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Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brief. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brief
2 of 3 noun1
: a brief statement of the case a lawyer will present in court
2
plural
: short snug underpants
brief
3 of 3 verb
: to give information or instructions to
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English bref, breve "short, brief," from early French brief, bref (same meaning), from Latin brevis "short" — related to breve
Noun
Middle English bref "formal letter," from early French bref (same meaning), derived from Latin brevis "summary," from earlier brevis (adjective) "short, brief"
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