in a word

English[edit]

(abbreviative action or effect): In summarization: briefly, concisely, summarily, in short; to sum up
In order to deliver the news of Greek victory to Athens, Pheidippides covered the distance there from the plain of Marathon as quickly as his two legs could carry him, and did so without making any stops; in a word, he ran the entire distance.

Man, I got here by putting one foot in front of the other; in a word, I walked.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, “The Conclusion of the foregoing Adventure”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume III, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, page 132:
  In a Word, to hint at no more Reaſons for his Conduct, Mr. Northerton was deſirous of departing that Evening, and nothing remained for him but to contrive the Quomodo, which appeared to be a Matter of ſome Difficulty.
(cumulative action or effect): In summation: all in all, altogether, in total, overall, to sum up
He was suspicious, standoffish, taciturn; in a word, hostile.

Susan soon discovered her blind date to be mean, vulgar, obstreperous, presuming, and insulting; in a word, a cad.

briefly, concisely