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View synonyms for abbreviate

abbreviate

[ uh-bree-vee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing.
  1. to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.
  2. to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer:

    to abbreviate a speech.



verb (used without object)

, ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing.
  1. to use abbreviations.

abbreviate

/ əˈbriːvɪˌeɪt /

verb

  1. to shorten (a word or phrase) by contraction or omission of some letters or words
  2. to shorten (a speech or piece of writing) by omitting sections, paraphrasing, etc
  3. to cut short
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • abˈbreviˌator, noun
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Other Words From

  • ab·brevi·ator noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abbreviate1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbreviātus shortened (past participle of abbreviāre ), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + breviātus ( brevi(s) “short“ + -ātus -ate 1 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abbreviate1

C15: from the past participle of Late Latin abbreviāre, from Latin brevis brief
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Synonym Study

See shorten.
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Example Sentences

Many places might require advance reservations and have abbreviated hours, so check their websites in advance.

Baltimore is on track to finish last in the AL East for the fourth time in five seasons, with the only outlier being last year’s pandemic-abbreviated season, when the Orioles finished fourth, one game ahead of the Red Sox.

Often abbreviated to TW, tongue weight is the force that a trailer’s tongue exerts on the ball hitch.

Ever since the 17th century, when mariners began seeking the mythologized Northwest Passage above Canada, the great sail over the top of the world has been an object of desire because of its potential to abbreviate transit times.

From Quartz

This somber performance, even when abbreviated to just nine minutes, should make spectators profoundly uncomfortable.

And it's easier to delay something than to make something happen, so things tended to elongate rather than abbreviate.

In all letters of this sort they always abbreviate some words; it looks more business-like.

On the days when there is washing or sweeping or baking to do she will have to abbreviate other things.

Gentlemen, I have seen fit to abbreviate the King's message.

Every thing tends in a wonderful manner to abbreviate itself and yield its own virtue to him.

By this time you can pretty well imagine them, and my story is likely to be too long, unless I abbreviate.

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abbrev.abbreviated