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
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
—La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
As a result, audiences today expect the same brevity and clarity in professional communications.
—Chiara Alzati, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
With Part 1 running two hours and 40 minutes, it can’t be accused of defying brevity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024
Note: Questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
—Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brevity 
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La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
As a result, audiences today expect the same brevity and clarity in professional communications.
—Chiara Alzati, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
With Part 1 running two hours and 40 minutes, it can’t be accused of defying brevity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024
Note: Questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
—Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 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 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brevity
noun
brev·i·ty
ˈbrev-ət-ē
: the condition of being brief
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