short·cut
ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 
also -ˈkət
1
: a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken
2
: a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure
a shortcut to success
3
: a key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard programmed to perform a specific function when pressed
You can open any item by clicking it or by assigning it a keyboard shortcut.—
Christopher Breen
Christopher Breencalled also hot key
shortcut; shortcutting
: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut
also
: circumvent
: to take or use a shortcut
Examples of shortcut in a Sentence
Noun
Wait, I know a shortcut. Turn left here.
We took a shortcut home.
Let's take the shortcut through the woods.
I used a shortcut to calculate the total weight.
There are no shortcuts to learning another language.
Mistakes were made because too many shortcuts were taken.
Verb
are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?
Recent Examples on the Web
Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 22 July 2025
Over time, those shortcuts build up and slow everything down.
—Itzik Alvas, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
Some are cheesy casseroles, while others are shortcut desserts, but they’re all made with love.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
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Noun
With an open mind and a little patience, the best sheet masks can offer a shortcut to a wide range of skin-care concerns—breakouts, dryness, combination skin, dullness, fine lines, dark spots, and more.
—Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 22 July 2025
Over time, those shortcuts build up and slow everything down.
—Itzik Alvas, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Verb
But any items or keyboard shortcuts your app puts into one of these menus are moved to the menu bar on iPadOS 26.
—ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
Some are cheesy casseroles, while others are shortcut desserts, but they’re all made with love.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
Cite this Entry
“Shortcut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortcut. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shortcut
1 of 2 noun
short·cut
ˈshȯrt-ˌkət
-ˈkət
: a shorter, quicker, or easier way
a shortcut through the woods
a shortcut to fame
shortcut
2 of 2 verb
shortcut; shortcutting
: to take or use a shortcut
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