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Showing results for shorten.
Definitions

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.

The use of robots like Carri could shorten response times on orders and free up delivery drivers to take on more jobs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Depending on how long the conflict lasts, however, some facilities could elect to shorten or postpone their usual May and June maintenance schedules, he said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

They shorten phrases like "inclusive representation" to "inclush-representash" and urge her to adopt the hashtag "wheely in love" to help it go viral.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

If untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health problems and shorten life expectancy by about 10 years.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

He tried to move, but pain hammered into him and made his breath shorten into gasps and he stopped, his legs still in the water.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

Vocabulary lists containing shorten

Banned Book Week Words

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