adverb
-
in a short time; soon
-
in a few words; briefly
-
in a curt or rude manner
Etymology
Origin of shortly
First recorded before 900; Middle English schortly, Old English scortlīce; see short, -ly
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.
At an event shortly after the release, Figma Chief Executive Dylan Field said Anthropic hadn’t been “consistently candid in their communications,” according to attendees of the event.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"The UN cannot impose peace. Only Cypriots, through their leaders, can build it," Guterres wrote on X shortly after landing at midnight on Monday night.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Green fire was reported shortly before 5:45 p.m. on a steep slope along Highway 38 near Mountain Home Village.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Trump said in a post on Truth Social shortly after the vote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The morning I received the first call, it was at the end of my shift—I got the call and then I immediately ran home, and Theo appeared shortly after.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions 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.
