shorten

American  

[shawr-tn] / ˈʃɔr 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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become short or shorter.

   Synonyms:

   lessen, contract

2. (of odds) to decrease.

shorten British  

/ 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

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of shorten

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

Example Sentences

Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, and others have urged cabinet members to shorten their presentations, according to administration officials.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most banks should be open on Dec. 31, but check with your local branch to see if it has shortened hours that day.

From MarketWatch

His movement was limited as he worked to shorten points where possible.

From BBC

Houston thrives when it shortens the field and avoids asking the offense to sustain long drives.

From Los Angeles Times

Crude futures ended a shortened pre-Christmas session with little change as U.S. actions to contain Venezuela’s oil trade and continuing Russia-Ukraine tensions provided support against views of oversupply.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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