shorten

[shawr-tn] / ˈʃɔr tn /

VERB

diminish, decrease

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

abridge bob chop clip condense contract dock edit elide excerpt lop retrench snip

WEAK

blue pencil boil down cut to the bone make a long story short put in a nutshell

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen raise strengthen stretch

WEAK

amplify elongate

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.

They plan to shorten waits for gynaecology care, have fewer painful procedures without informed consent or pain relief choices, and provide easier access to contraception.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

In April, OpenAI introduced GPT-Rosalind, which it says is intended to help researchers shorten drug-development timelines.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Eccentric exercise focuses on the phase when muscles lengthen rather than shorten.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

There was a machinery working to shorten his punishment.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

I have to shorten my stride because I'm taller.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

Vocabulary lists containing shorten

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shorten

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Vocabulary lists containing shorten

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