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; see 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.
According to the lawsuit, Pentagon officials demanded that publisher Lederer fire Slavin and Korte shortly after Stars and Stripes published its report on the Lincoln.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
The former Duchess of York is expected "back in the UK shortly", a source close to her has told the BBC.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
This week, the Post reported that shortly before he was fired, George had been warned to stop investigating an Army helicopter flyby outside Kid Rock’s house in Tennessee.
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026
Andrew Haden, 48, was found dead in an office inside the Edward J. Schwartz federal building on Aug. 19 shortly after being reported missing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
She was in Rochester when these tricks first begun, but came to Hydesville, the little village in Central New York, where we lived and were born, shortly after.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
