1
a
: in a brief way
briefly mentioned
b
: in brief
the food, briefly, was awful
2
: for a short time
briefly married
Examples of briefly in a Sentence
Several important issues are only briefly mentioned.
Please briefly describe your experience.
We briefly considered canceling the trip.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump received a hero’s welcome by the Knesset — as well as being briefly heckled by a left-wing member, who was promptly escorted out — after brokering a ceasefire that raised hopes for lasting peace in the region.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
In 2024, Parliament was briefly suspended when Māori lawmakers performed a haka opposing the Treaty Principles Bill, which sought to reinterpret the 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Māori.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
The crowd looked skyward as a military helicopter approached from Gaza, briefly diverting from its route to Ichilov Hospital to circle the square in a symbolic salute.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for briefly
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Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
In 2024, Parliament was briefly suspended when Māori lawmakers performed a haka opposing the Treaty Principles Bill, which sought to reinterpret the 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Māori.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
The crowd looked skyward as a military helicopter approached from Gaza, briefly diverting from its route to Ichilov Hospital to circle the square in a symbolic salute.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for briefly
Cite this Entry
“Briefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/briefly. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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