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

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 redeemIsaiah 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 How to pronounce shorten (audio)
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for shorten

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

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

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of shorten in a Sentence

shorten a pair of pants He had to shorten the speech. “Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among them, Florida is the only team to do so after playing a full 82-game regular season in all three years, as Tampa Bay’s first two seasons were shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025 Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time. David Brennan, ABC News, 8 June 2025 The reason the race was shortened is because to have a 1 1/2-mile race at Saratoga, the horses would have to start on a turn, something the organizers didn’t want to happen. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025 The first mission, which flew in December, reduced the time between launch notification and lift off to around five months—and the May 30 mission shortened it even further, to around 90 days. Stephen Clark – Jun 6, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shorten

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shorten was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Shorten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shorten. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

shorten

verb
short·​en ˈshȯrt-ᵊn How to pronounce shorten (audio)
shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ How to pronounce shorten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to make or become short or shorter
2
: to add shortening to (as pastry dough)
shortener
-nər How to pronounce shorten (audio)
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shorten

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