short story
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of short story
First recorded in 1885–90
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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.
Noir fans will recognize the title as belonging to a short story by William Irish, the pen name of that master of unease, Cornell Woolrich.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
When Dame Hilary published her original short story in 2014, its title was meant to provoke a reaction, according to playwright Alexandra Wood.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
The short story made its way into Thomas' best-known collection of short stories, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog, which was published in 1940.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Khong had suggested meeting at the animal shelter because it’s a key setting for her short story “Tapetum Lucidum,” named for the demon-like glow behind some animals’ superior night vision.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Poe won a short story contest and the prize was publication in a local paper.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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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.