shorten

verb

short·en ˈshȯr-tᵊn How to pronounce shorten (audio)

shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ How to pronounce shorten (audio)

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to reduce the length or duration of

: to cause to seem short

: to reduce in power or efficiency

is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem

Isaiah 50:2 (Revised Standard Version)

obsolete : to deprive of effect

: to add fat to (something, such as pastry dough) in order to make tender and flaky

intransitive verb

: to become short or shorter

shortener

ˈshȯrt-nər How to pronounce shorten (audio)

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-ər

noun

Example Sentences

shorten a pair of pants He had to shorten the speech. “Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.”

Recent Examples on the Web Chlorophyll, which is the chemical that gives many trees their green pigment, absorbs sunlight, but as days shorten, chlorophyll production stops and trees begin to stop.

Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2022 The offense will have to lean on its explosive and consistent run game to score points and shorten the game.

Lance Reisland, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 Already, public health agencies, researchers and nonprofit organizations around the world have taken it upon themselves to abbreviate or shorten the controversial name.

Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Adjustable straps, designed with a slider to easily lengthen or shorten the straps for the best fit, are a common feature of bras.

Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 Plus, your hamstring muscles shorten during knee flexion, allowing for greater isolation of your glutes.

Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 8 Aug. 2022 But those who use wheelchairs say the delays are being felt more acutely now thanks to many other airline issues, including flight delays, which can shorten connection times.

Allison Pohle, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Music may offer catharsis of all kinds, but sweet sounds won’t shorten the long road ahead.

Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 This gives you more room for games and will shorten game loading times.

Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 See More

shorten

verb

as in to reduce

to make less in extent or duration we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

reduce
curtail
truncate
abbreviate
abridge
decrease
cut back
trim
elide
compress
dock
summarize
modify
syncopate
cut
encapsulate
recapitulate
pare
digest
diminish
sum up
shrink
cut down
prune
lessen
constrict
slash
epitomize
retrench
taper
abstract
downsize
moderate
dwindle
lower
contract
abate
deflate
de-escalate
subtract (from)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lengthen
extend
prolong
elongate
expand
increase
enlarge
add
supplement
maximize
protract
augment
amplify
raise
heighten
boost
escalate
dilate
inflate
swell
distend
aggrandize
blow up
balloon
pump up

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of shorten are abbreviate, abridge, curtail, and retrench. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

The words abbreviate and shorten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

While in some cases nearly identical to shorten, abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

Although the words curtail and shorten have much in common, curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

The meanings of retrench and shorten largely overlap; however, retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

单词	shorten
释义	shorten verb short·en ˈshȯr-tᵊn shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ ˈshȯr-tᵊn-iŋ transitive verb 1 a : to reduce the length or duration of b : to cause to seem short 2 a : to reduce in power or efficiency is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem Isaiah 50:2 (Revised Standard Version) b obsolete : to deprive of effect 3 : to add fat to (something, such as pastry dough) in order to make tender and flaky intransitive verb : to become short or shorter shortener ˈshȯrt-nər ˈshȯr-tᵊn-ər noun Synonyms abbreviate abridge curtail cut back dock elide syncopate truncate See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences shorten a pair of pants He had to shorten the speech. “Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.” Recent Examples on the Web Chlorophyll, which is the chemical that gives many trees their green pigment, absorbs sunlight, but as days shorten, chlorophyll production stops and trees begin to stop. Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2022 The offense will have to lean on its explosive and consistent run game to score points and shorten the game. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 Already, public health agencies, researchers and nonprofit organizations around the world have taken it upon themselves to abbreviate or shorten the controversial name. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Adjustable straps, designed with a slider to easily lengthen or shorten the straps for the best fit, are a common feature of bras. Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 Plus, your hamstring muscles shorten during knee flexion, allowing for greater isolation of your glutes. Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 8 Aug. 2022 But those who use wheelchairs say the delays are being felt more acutely now thanks to many other airline issues, including flight delays, which can shorten connection times. Allison Pohle, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Music may offer catharsis of all kinds, but sweet sounds won’t shorten the long road ahead. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 This gives you more room for games and will shorten game loading times. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Kids Definition shorten verb short·en ˈshȯr-tᵊn shortened; shortening : to make or become short or shorter I shortened my trip. shorten verb as in to reduce to make less in extent or duration we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance reduce curtail truncate abbreviate abridge decrease cut back trim elide compress dock summarize modify syncopate cut encapsulate recapitulate pare digest diminish sum up shrink cut down prune lessen constrict slash epitomize retrench taper abstract downsize moderate dwindle lower contract abate deflate de-escalate subtract (from) Antonyms & Near Antonyms lengthen extend prolong elongate expand increase enlarge add supplement maximize protract augment amplify raise heighten boost escalate dilate inflate swell distend aggrandize blow up balloon pump up See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of shorten are abbreviate, abridge, curtail, and retrench. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," shorten implies reduction in length or duration. shorten a speech The words abbreviate and shorten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part. using an abbreviated title While in some cases nearly identical to shorten, abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result. the abridged version of the novel Although the words curtail and shorten have much in common, curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy. ceremonies curtailed because of rain The meanings of retrench and shorten largely overlap; however, retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive. declining business forced the company to retrench
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shorten

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

verb

Synonym Chooser