adverb
-
in a short time; soon
-
in a few words; briefly
-
in a curt or rude manner
Etymology
Origin of shortly
First recorded before 900; Middle English schortly, Old English scortlīce; short, -ly
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.
In 2020, Iran accidentally downed a Ukrainian airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran.
Cellphone and internet communications were disrupted shortly after the attacks began.
From Los Angeles Times
But those eager to own their own need not despair: The transit system announced shortly before 3 p.m.
From Los Angeles Times
Formally known as CM2502, Porkchop got her nickname when she chowed down shortly after losing her front right flipper, which was severely constricted by fishing line.
From Los Angeles Times
The move comes shortly before a 5:01 p.m. deadline for Anthropic to let the military use its models in all lawful use cases, a concession the company has refused to make.
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.
