briefly
UK: /ˈbriːfli/ | US: /ˈbriːfli/
adv. for a short time; in a concise manner
adv. in few words; summarily
briefly = brief<short> + ly<adverb suffix>
- brief: From Old French brief (short), from Latin brevis (short). Originally referred to physical shortness, later extended to time and conciseness.
- ly: A common English adverbial suffix derived from Old English -līce, indicating manner or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word briefly combines brief (rooted in Latin brevis) with the adverbial suffix -ly. Latin brevis conveyed both physical and temporal shortness, which carried into Old French and Middle English. The suffix -ly systematically transforms adjectives into adverbs, making briefly literally mean "in a short manner." Over time, it specialized to describe both duration ("for a short time") and verbal conciseness ("in few words").
She spoke briefly about the project’s goals.
The meeting ended briefly after the main discussion.
He glanced briefly at the document before signing.
The article summarizes the theory briefly but clearly.
Let’s stop briefly to rest before continuing the hike.