Brief — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Brief
Brief (adjective)
- short in duration, extent, or length
- concise
- curt, abrupt
Brief (noun)
- an official letter or mandate; especially, Roman Catholicism, a papal letter less formal than a bull
- a specific instruction or responsibility
- a concise article (as in a newspaper)
Brief (verb)
- to make an abstract or abridgment of
- to give final precise instructions to
- to coach thoroughly in advance
Brief (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
"a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet"
-
not lasting for a considerable time
"fortunately, the meeting was brief"
-
lasting only for a short time
"a brief flash of light"
Brief (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
a short statement of the main points
"a one-page brief of the intelligence report"
-
a specific task with which a person or group is charged
"the soldiers' brief was to secure the village from enemy attacks"
Brief (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
to give information to
"the lieutenant briefed his superior officers on the state of the enemy's fortifications"
-
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
"his duties include briefing intelligence reports for the president"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Brief
The most common words with a similar meaning to Brief:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Brief
Words with the opposite meaning of Brief:
Near Antonyms of Brief
Word Forms of Brief
Origin & Etymology of Brief
Middle English bref, breve, from Anglo-French bref, brief, from Latin brevis; akin to Old High German murg short, Greek brachys
First known use: 14th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Brief
- CEFR level: B1 English Vocabulary — Page 2
- Academic Word List: 570 Academic Word List — Page 2
- Topics: Descriptions / Adjectives
Words & Phrases Containing Brief
Frequently Asked Questions about Brief
What does "Brief" mean?
"Brief" means short in duration, extent, or length. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: short in duration, extent, or length. It has 7 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Brief"?
Other words for "Brief" include aphoristic, apothegmatic, capsule, compact, compendious, concise, crisp and curt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Brief" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Brief"?
There are 181 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Brief". Common alternatives include aphoristic, apothegmatic, capsule, compact, compendious, concise, crisp, curt, elliptical and epigrammatic.
What is the opposite of "Brief"?
Antonyms of "Brief" include circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose and windy. Near antonyms include pleonastic, redundant, repetitious and tautological.
How do you use "Brief" in a sentence?
Examples of "Brief" in a sentence: "a brief but crucial admonition to keep quiet"; "fortunately, the meeting was brief"; "a brief flash of light".
Is "Brief" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Brief" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.
Is "Brief" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As a B1-level word, "Brief" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.
How do you pronounce "Brief"?
"Brief" is pronounced /ˈbrēf/.