short time

American  

noun

1. a period or schedule during which the number of working hours is reduced.

   The recession has put most of the manufacturing plants on short time.

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short time British  

noun

1. a system of working, usually for a temporary period, when employees are required to work and be paid for fewer than their normal hours per week due to a shortage of work

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Other Word Forms

• short-time
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

short time

It seems like a short time to wait.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Deng, a 26-year veteran of the department, was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

The new law establishes criteria for fining companies that release high volumes of new products over short time periods at prices far below the cost of repairing them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

"A short time after my attention was drawn to blue flashing lights," he added.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

I’m not good at much, and I’ve been good at being a spy for only a very short time.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• moment
• second