shorten

[shawr-tn]

verb (used with object)

1. to make short or shorter.

   Synonyms: restrict, limit, lessen, condense

2. to reduce, decrease, take in, etc..

   to shorten sail.

3. to make (pastry, bread, etc.) short, as with butter or other fat.

4. Sports.,  choke.

verb (used without object)

1. to become short or shorter.

   Synonyms: lessen, contract

2. (of odds) to decrease.

shorten

/ ˈʃɔːtən /

verb

1. to make or become short or shorter

2. (tr) nautical to reduce the area of (sail)

3. (tr) to make (pastry, bread, etc) short, by adding butter or another fat

4. gambling to cause (the odds) to lessen or (of odds) to become less

Other Word Forms

• shortener noun
• overshorten verb
• preshorten verb (used with object)
• reshorten verb
• undershorten verb (used with object)
• unshorten adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shorten¹

First recorded in 1505–15; short + -en ¹

Synonym Study

Shorten, abbreviate, abridge, curtail mean to make shorter or briefer. Shorten is a general word meaning to make less in extent or duration: to shorten a dress, a prisoner's sentence. The other three terms suggest methods of shortening. To abbreviate is to make shorter by omission or contraction: to abbreviate a word. To abridge is to reduce in length or size by condensing, summarizing, and the like: to abridge a document. Curtail suggests deprivation and lack of completeness because of omitting some part: to curtail an explanation.

Example Sentences

Add the butter and shortening and pulse until the butter is the size of peas.

Read more on Salon

Prof. Monsonego's work showed that reducing the number of these T helper cells in mice caused the animals to age more quickly and shortened their lifespan.

Read more on Science Daily

The trials also did not determine whether the drug improves quality of life or shortens hospital stays.

Read more on Science Daily

Over the next few decades, sporadic attempts to shorten working hours continued.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since the reactor is continually producing radiation, shortening their time near it reduces the amount of radiation workers are likely to absorb.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• abbreviate 
• compress 
• curtail 
• cut 
• cut back 
• cut down 
• lessen 
• minimize 
• reduce 
• shrink 
• slash 
• trim