short of

1. Having an inadequate supply of, as in We're short of cash right now . [Late 1600s] Also see fall short of .

2. Less than, inferior to, as in Nothing short of her best effort was needed to make the team . [Mid-1500s]

3. Other than, without resorting to, as in Short of yelling, I had no other way of getting his attention .

4. See stop short , def. 3.

Example Sentences

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon kept his team in the match with a succession of sharp saves as Greece threatened to overwhelm the Scots, who looked desperately short of belief and intensity.

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Only three short of England's famous 2012 win over the same opposition, but in excess of all but England fans' wildest expectations.

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The BTP has already described his actions as "nothing short of heroic".

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Moreover, net profit at its life-and-health reinsurance segment fell short of expectations and the company no longer expects to meet a full-year target for the business, KBW says.

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He recently overtook George II, who in 1760 died a few days short of his 77th birthday.

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Related Words

• deficient 
• faulty 
• inadequate 
• incomplete 
• meager 
• poor 
• scant 
• scarce 
• unsatisfactory