brevity

/ˈbɹɛvəti/

Group 34Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(noun)
Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech; shortness of time
GRE

Example in Context

The reporter's brevity was legendary—she could convey in a single paragraph what others required an entire article to communicate.

Etymology

The quality of being short and concise.

  • brevis (Latin) — short

Memory Aid

Sounds like “brevity

A BREVITY of words is like a tiny, speedy squirrel darting to grab a nut — quick and to the point!

Visual Association

✂️A squirrel quickly snipping a long speech down to just one word: 'Nut!'

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “brevity” mean on the GRE?

brevity (noun) means “Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech; shortness of time”. The reporter's brevity was legendary—she could convey in a single paragraph what others required an entire article to communicate.

How to remember “brevity” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “brevity” sounds like “brevity”. A BREVITY of words is like a tiny, speedy squirrel darting to grab a nut — quick and to the point!