briskly

briskly — adverb

1. with lively speed and a businesslike sense of purpose, so that an action feels a

1.adverbB2
Definition

with lively speed and a businesslike sense of purpose, so that an action feels active, efficient, and ready to move on.

Example

Hana walked briskly across the station before the last train left.

walk + briskly for fast movement

The nurse briskly checked my temperature and handed me a paper mask.

briskly + verb in efficient routine work

Common collocations
  • walk briskly
  • move briskly
  • work briskly
  • speak briskly
  • step briskly
Synonyms
  • quickly

    more general; it does not always suggest the same energy or purposeful tone

  • swiftly

    slightly more formal and more focused on speed itself

  • energetically

    stresses lively effort, sometimes more than speed or efficiency

  • efficiently

    focuses on doing something well with little waste, not necessarily with lively movement

Antonyms
  • slowly

    opposite in speed

  • lazily

    opposite in energy and purpose

  • hesitantly

    suggests uncertainty instead of brisk confidence

Grammar Patterns

verb + briskly

briskly + verb of movement or work

say + briskly

Usage Note

Often modifies verbs of movement or task-focused action such as walk, move, check, clear, and finish. With speech verbs like say or ask, it can suggest a practical, no-nonsense tone rather than friendliness.

Common Mistakes

She gave me a briskly smile.
She gave me a brisk smile.
before a noun, use the adjective 'brisk', not the adverb.
The manager briskly to the door.
The manager walked briskly to the door.
briskly must modify a verb.

Word family

  • brisk
    adjectiveB2
  • briskness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Briskly' and 'quickly' both involve speed, but 'briskly' adds energy and purpose. Someone who walks briskly is not only fast; they look active and alert. 'Swiftly' often sounds a little more formal and focuses on speed alone, especially in writing about response or movement. 'Energetically' highlights liveliness and effort, but a person can act energetically without being especially fast. 'Efficiently' points to good organization and successful results, even if the action does not look lively. Compare: 'The nurse briskly checked the chart' suggests fast, businesslike action, while 'The nurse efficiently checked the chart' focuses more on doing the job well.

briskly ↗quickly ↗swiftly ↗energeticallyefficiently ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite briskly
  • very briskly

Phrases

  • walk briskly
  • move briskly
  • speak briskly
  • work briskly

Prepositions

  • briskly across
  • briskly through
  • briskly past

Etymology

English

This adverb was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'brisk'. The adjective has long been used for people, movement, and activity that feel lively, quick, or full of energy. The deeper origin of 'brisk' is uncertain, but the adverb itself is a straightforward English formation that keeps the same idea of active speed and readiness.