Touch briefly: meaning, definitions and examples

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touch briefly

 

[ tʌtʃ ˈbriːfli ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

communication

To briefly make physical contact with someone or something.

Synonyms

brush against, graze, make contact.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
touch briefly

When you need to describe a light and quick physical contact, often used in everyday situations to indicate minimal contact.

  • She touched his arm briefly to get his attention.
  • The cat touched the ball briefly before running away.
brush against

Describes a gentle, often accidental, contact in passing. This is commonly used for describing situations where one object or person accidentally touches another while moving.

  • She felt the leaves brush against her skin as she walked through the dense forest.
  • He brushed against her shoulder as he squeezed past in the crowded hallway.
make contact

A more formal or technical way to describe initiating physical touch or establishing communication. Often used in professional or scientific contexts.

  • The astronaut made contact with the surface of the moon.
  • He tried to make contact with the customer service team for assistance.
graze

Used to describe a light, often unintentional, contact that is so slight it could cause minor abrasion or barely noticeable touch. It can have a slightly negative connotation when referring to a minor injury.

  • The bullet grazed his arm, causing a minor wound.
  • The ball grazed the surface of the table before rolling off.

Examples of usage

  • He touched briefly on the topic during the meeting.
  • She touched briefly on the subject before moving on to the next.

Translations

Translations of the word "touch briefly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tocar brevemente

🇮🇳 संक्षेप में छूना

🇩🇪 kurz berühren

🇮🇩 menyentuh sebentar

🇺🇦 торкнутися коротко

🇵🇱 dotknąć krótko

🇯🇵 ちょっと触れる (chotto fureru)

🇫🇷 toucher brièvement

🇪🇸 tocar brevemente

🇹🇷 kısaca dokunmak

🇰🇷 잠깐 만지다 (jamkan manjida)

🇸🇦 لمس لفترة وجيزة (lams lifatra wajiza)

🇨🇿 krátce se dotknout

🇸🇰 krátko sa dotknúť

🇨🇳 短暂触摸 (duǎnzàn chùmō)

🇸🇮 kratko se dotakniti

🇮🇸 snerta stuttlega

🇰🇿 қысқаша жанасу

🇬🇪 მოკლედ შეხება (mokled shekheba)

🇦🇿 qısaca toxunmaq

🇲🇽 tocar brevemente

Etymology

The word 'touch' originated from the Old French word 'tochier', which in turn came from the Latin word 'toccare'. The word 'briefly' is derived from the Middle English word 'brefli', meaning 'shortly'. The combination 'touch briefly' emphasizes the quick and light nature of the contact being made.