short list

¹

Or shortlist

noun

1. a list of those people or items preferred or most likely to be chosen, as winnowed from a longer list of possibilities.

short-list

²

[shawrt-list]

verb (used with object)

1. to put on a short list.

short list

noun

1. a list of suitable applicants for a job, post, etc, from which the successful candidate will be selected

verb

1. to put (someone) on a short list

Word History and Origins

Origin of short list¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“It also had to be somebody that has the chops of a serious technical actor. That is a very short list.”

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Scott Jacoby of “That Certain Summer” and Anthony Murphy of “Tom Brown’s School Days,” who both won in 1973 at 16 and 17, respectively, round out the short list.

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Others on the short list include the Dodgers’ Shawn Green in 2002, who in a 16-3 win over the Brewers also doubled and singled to set a record with 19 total bases.

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There is temptation to place every debut, along with every conductor invited back to the Bowl, as a potential candidate for the long list, short list or whatever list to be the L.A.

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There is a short list of "very important things" that only the United States currently provides, according to historian Timothy Garton Ash.

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Related Words

• waiting list