brevity
noun
brev·i·ty
ˈbre-və-tē 
plural brevities
: shortness of duration
especially
: shortness or conciseness of expression
Examples of brevity in a Sentence
Mike Espy resigned under pressure as Secretary of Agriculture yesterday at a news conference remarkable for its brevity and general absence of whining.
—
New York Times, 4 Oct. 1994
Lincoln was able to achieve the loftiness, ideality, and brevity of the Gettysburg Address because he had spent a good part of the 1850s repeatedly relating all the most sensitive issues of the day to the Declaration's supreme principle.
—Garry Wills, Lincoln At Gettysburg, 1992
The book's brevity is its major defect. Admittedly, readers of military history have been smothered by portentous tomes of a thousand pages or more. But 365 pages are too few to tell the Normandy story.
—Drew Middleton, New York Times Book Review, 15 Aug. 1982
"Maudie, I'm sure I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. Merriweather. "I'm sure you do," Miss Maudie said shortly. She said no more. When Miss Maudie was angry, her brevity was icy.
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
The book's major flaw is its brevity.
the best quality a graduation speech can have is brevity
New York Times, 4 Oct. 1994
Lincoln was able to achieve the loftiness, ideality, and brevity of the Gettysburg Address because he had spent a good part of the 1850s repeatedly relating all the most sensitive issues of the day to the Declaration's supreme principle.
—Garry Wills, Lincoln At Gettysburg, 1992
The book's brevity is its major defect. Admittedly, readers of military history have been smothered by portentous tomes of a thousand pages or more. But 365 pages are too few to tell the Normandy story.
—Drew Middleton, New York Times Book Review, 15 Aug. 1982
"Maudie, I'm sure I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. Merriweather. "I'm sure you do," Miss Maudie said shortly. She said no more. When Miss Maudie was angry, her brevity was icy.
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
The book's major flaw is its brevity.
the best quality a graduation speech can have is brevity
Recent Examples on the Web
And the brevity of Harris’s campaign—Joe Biden’s decision to step down in July left her just over three months at the top of the ticket—has required her to triage her messaging.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
Editor’s Note: The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
—Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
—Marianne Schnall, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The film’s constant leaps back and forth along its storyline are presumably meant to drive home the idea that time never seems to be enough, that these people are doomed by the unanticipated brevity of their life together.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brevity 
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Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
Editor’s Note: The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
—Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
—Marianne Schnall, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The film’s constant leaps back and forth along its storyline are presumably meant to drive home the idea that time never seems to be enough, that these people are doomed by the unanticipated brevity of their life together.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brevity
Dictionary Entries Near brevity
Cite this Entry
“Brevity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brevity. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brevity
noun
brev·i·ty
ˈbrev-ət-ē
: the condition of being brief
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