B2 noun Neutral

briskly

/ˈbrɪsk.li/

To perform an action in a quick, energetic, and active manner. It suggests a pace that is fast but efficient, often implying a sense of purpose or healthiness.

Examples

3 of 5
1

She walked briskly to the office to make sure she wasn't late for the meeting.

She moved at a quick and energetic pace toward her workplace.

2

The chairperson moved briskly through the committee's agenda to save time.

The leader handled the scheduled items quickly and efficiently.

3

Come on, if we walk briskly, we can still catch the start of the movie!

Hurry up, if we move fast, we will arrive on time.

Word Family

Noun
briskness
Adverb
briskly
Adjective
brisk
Related
briskness
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'brisk' air in winter; it makes you want to move 'briskly' (fast and energetically) to stay warm.

Quick Quiz

After the rain stopped, the hikers stepped ____ along the trail to reach the summit before sunset.

Correct!

The correct answer is: briskly

Examples

1

She walked briskly to the office to make sure she wasn't late for the meeting.

everyday

She moved at a quick and energetic pace toward her workplace.

2

The chairperson moved briskly through the committee's agenda to save time.

formal

The leader handled the scheduled items quickly and efficiently.

3

Come on, if we walk briskly, we can still catch the start of the movie!

informal

Hurry up, if we move fast, we will arrive on time.

4

The chemical reaction proceeds briskly once the temperature reaches sixty degrees Celsius.

academic

The scientific process occurs rapidly and vigorously at a specific heat.

5

Shares in the tech sector were trading briskly following the positive earnings report.

business

Stock exchange activity was fast and high in volume after good news.

Word Family

Noun
briskness
Adverb
briskly
Adjective
brisk
Related
briskness

Common Collocations

walk briskly to walk at a fast, steady pace for health or speed
rub briskly to apply friction quickly and firmly, often to dry something
nod briskly to move one's head up and down quickly to show agreement or dismissal
trade briskly when buying and selling happens at a high speed and volume
proceed briskly to continue with a task or journey without wasting time

Common Phrases

a briskly paced novel

a book where the story moves along very quickly

move briskly along

to advance through a sequence of events without delay

briskly efficient

doing a job very fast and without any mistakes

Often Confused With

briskly vs briefly

Briefly refers to the duration of time (short), while briskly refers to the speed or energy of an action.

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Usage Notes

Use 'briskly' when you want to emphasize not just speed, but a sense of alertness or professional efficiency. It is very common in health contexts, such as 'briskly walking' for exercise.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'briskly' to describe a short duration of time (e.g., 'He spoke briskly' meaning for a short time), but it should describe the energetic manner of the speaking.

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Memory Tip

Think of the 'brisk' air in winter; it makes you want to move 'briskly' (fast and energetically) to stay warm.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the 16th-century French word 'brusque' (lively or fierce), combined with the English adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Grammar Patterns

Adverb of manner usually following the main verb Can modify adjectives in compound modifiers (e.g., briskly-paced)
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Cultural Context

In many English-speaking cultures, 'briskly walking' is a specific medical recommendation for cardiovascular health, often defined as walking fast enough to raise your heart rate.

Quick Quiz

After the rain stopped, the hikers stepped ____ along the trail to reach the summit before sunset.

Correct!

The correct answer is: briskly

Related Words

ozone

B2

Ozone is a colorless gas found in the upper atmosphere that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is also produced at ground level as a pollutant when sunlight reacts with industrial emissions.

layer

B2

A layer is a single thickness, sheet, or level of a material that covers a surface or is placed between other things. It can refer to physical substances like paint and geological strata, or abstract levels of complexity and meaning.

around

C2

As an adverb at a C2 level, it denotes presence, availability, or existence within a specific vicinity or context. It is also used to indicate approximate values or to describe movement or positioning that encircles a point or lacks a specific direction.

climate

B2

Climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, in a particular region over many years. It can also describe the prevailing mood, conditions, or social atmosphere of a specific time or place.

immune

B2

Immune describes the state of being protected from a specific disease, typically through vaccination or prior exposure. It can also figuratively refer to being unaffected by something negative, such as criticism, or being exempt from certain duties or legal consequences.

virus

B2

A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism, often causing disease. In technology, it refers to a piece of malicious code that replicates itself to damage or disrupt a computer system.

species

B2

A species is a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. It is the basic unit of biological classification and taxonomic rank in the hierarchy of living things.

business

B2

Used as an attributive adjective to describe things related to professional commerce, trade, or work activities. It distinguishes professional matters from personal, social, or recreational ones.

contract

C1

A formal and legally binding agreement between two or more parties that establishes mutual obligations. In academic and legal contexts, it refers to the specific terms, conditions, and enforcement mechanisms that govern a transaction or relationship.

bonus

B2

A bonus is an extra amount of money, credit, or benefit added to what is expected or required. It is typically given as a reward for good performance or as an incentive to encourage future effort.

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