- past participle of abbreviate.
- past tense form of abbreviate.
abbreviated
Americanadjective
-
shortened; made briefer.
The rain led to an abbreviated picnic.
-
(of clothing) scanty; barely covering the body.
an abbreviated bathing suit.
-
constituting a shorter or smaller version of.
The large car was an abbreviated limousine.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abbreviated
First recorded in 1545–55; abbreviate + -ed 2
Explanation
Something that's abbreviated is shortened or condensed. An abbreviated version of your favorite novel might be a quick read, but ultimately kind of disappointing. If you have to take an abbreviated vacation, you might need to leave Hawaii after a few days instead of staying for two weeks. On the other hand, if your boss at work gives you an abbreviated version of her usual lecture, you'll be able to go home a little earlier. The adjective abbreviated and the verb abbreviate both come from the noun abbreviation, with its Latin root, abbreviare, "make brief," from ad-, "to," and breviare, "shorten."
Vocabulary lists containing abbreviated
Brief
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Brief
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Yakhina, a novelist and screenwriter, has produced a fictionalized biography that, in Polly Gannon’s energetic translation from the Russian, races through the highs and lows of Eisenstein’s frantic, abbreviated career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Although his abbreviated WBC participation this spring was popularly tied to his free agency this fall, Skubal said the decision was simply based on a history of velocity that rises later in the season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
Titled "107 Days," it covers her abbreviated campaign against Trump after Biden dropped out.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Trading will be abbreviated by a day in the week ahead, with markets closed on Friday, June 3, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026
Fischer, deciding to use Tal's tactics against him, tried producing his own stare, and even flashed Tal an abbreviated, sneering smile of contempt.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
