wait briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wait briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to pause or hold on for a short period of time. Example: "Could you wait briefly while I grab my notes?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The signs, which bore the cryptic message "Bus Layover Area — 6 a.m.-midnight," in effect allowed private interstate buses to wait briefly by the curb, seven days a week.

The New York Times

For now, users will be able to open the Lose It! app, pick a meal-type (breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack), take a photo of their food, submit and wait briefly for Snap It to analyze it.

TechCrunch

In response, Marcus inquired about the woman's clothing sizes and asked the customer to wait briefly.

Wikipedia

Wait briefly while the digital image is sent to a digital in-office dental, milling machine, to make a porcelain restoration using improved, compressed porcelain, which is stronger than traditional layered porcelain restorations, and it may be processed and made in a half-hour or less.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"After emerging from the theater, we waited briefly for a taxi, and the drivers of passing cars halted their vehicles for a better look at the famous face," he later recalled.

Columbia University

Then, while waiting briefly outside the school gym, listening to the band playing and the students clapping, the vice president broke into a little dance, shuffling his feet and flailing his arms in a goofy soft shoe that his staff says he often does to loosen up before a speech.

The New York Times

But Obama did wait, only briefly mentioning deficit reduction in the address.

The Washington Post

Sometimes, he admitted, because the service is new, or the representative doesn't want to wait even briefly, he or she hangs up.

The New York Times

He got a job waiting tables briefly and then became a mechanic at a Lemont, Ill., packing plant for Diamond Foods, which sells Emerald snack nuts.

The New York Times

Last Sunday, the late arrival of Mr. Bloomberg, left, to a news conference before the Salute to Israel Parade nearly caused a minor international incident, as the Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, grew tired of waiting and briefly walked off.

The New York Times

He had to wait for room briefly near the top of the stretch, but made an explosive move once free and drew off to win by four lengths.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wait briefly" when you need someone to pause an action or hold their position for a short duration. It's suitable for both professional and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "wait briefly" repeatedly in formal documents. Vary your language with synonyms like "pause momentarily" or "hold for a short period" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wait briefly" functions as an imperative construction, where "wait" is the verb expressing the command and "briefly" modifies it, specifying the duration of the wait. It is commonly used to request a short pause, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wait briefly" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a short pause or delay. Ludwig AI analysis shows it's most commonly found in "News & Media", "Wiki", and "Science" contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various situations. While acceptable, it is advisable to avoid overuse and consider synonyms such as "pause momentarily" or "hold on a second", especially in formal writing, which ensures a refined and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pause momentarily

Replaces "wait" with "pause" and "briefly" with "momentarily", emphasizing a very short break.

hold on a second

Uses a more informal expression, "hold on", to indicate a short wait.

just a moment

Indicates a very short period of waiting using a common expression.

wait a second

A common and slightly less formal alternative, suggesting a very short wait.

stay put for a moment

Replaces "wait" with "stay put" for a more direct instruction.

tarry a while

Uses a more formal and somewhat archaic term, "tarry", for wait.

linger briefly

Suggests a slight delay or pause in movement or action.

hold the line

Commonly used in telephone conversations, instructing someone to wait.

kick back for a second

Employs informal language to suggest a relaxed, brief waiting period.

cool your heels

An idiomatic expression meaning to wait patiently.

FAQs

How can I use "wait briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "wait briefly" to ask someone to pause. For example, "Could you "wait briefly" while I check something?"

What are some alternatives to "wait briefly"?

Alternatives include "pause momentarily", "hold on a second", or "just a moment".

Is "wait briefly" formal or informal?

"Wait briefly" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain professional settings.

When is it appropriate to use "wait briefly" instead of "wait a long time"?

Use "wait briefly" when the waiting period is expected to be short. If the wait is longer, use phrases like "wait a while" or "wait a long time" to set appropriate expectations.