[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/briefly/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / briefly

# briefly

adverb

«briefly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Briefly means for a short time («I briefly saw her»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#m1)
2. Briefly means in a few words, without many details («Tell me briefly what happened»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#m2)

### In the lessons

In school, «briefly explain» or «describe briefly» in a question means give a short answer with the main points; summaries are brief. In everyday life it describes short moments and short talks. Similar: «quickly», «shortly», «in short». Phrases: «briefly explain», «put briefly», «paused briefly».

### Examples

- Briefly explain how a plant makes food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x1)
- The sun came out briefly before the rain started again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x2)
- She paused briefly before answering. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x3)
- Tell me briefly what the story is about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x4)
- We stopped briefly at the shop on the way home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x5)
- The lights went out briefly during the storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x6)
- Put briefly, we lost because we didn't practise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x7)
- He spoke briefly to the class about safety. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x8)
- One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/#x9)

### Note

From «brief» (short) + «-ly». Trap: «briefly» is about short time or few words; it does not mean «quickly done badly». In a test, «briefly» means one or two sentences, not a long essay.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «briefly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/briefly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«briefly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/briefly.html) on Mova free.