shortcut

1 of 2

noun

short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət How to pronounce shortcut (audio)
 also  -ˈkət
1
: a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken
2
: a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure
a shortcut to success
3
: a key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard programmed to perform a specific function when pressed
You can open any item by clicking it or by assigning it a keyboard shortcut.Christopher Breen

called also hot key

shortcut

2 of 2

verb

shortcut; shortcutting

transitive verb

: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut
also : circumvent

intransitive verb

: to take or use a shortcut

Examples of shortcut in a Sentence

Noun Wait, I know a shortcut. Turn left here. We took a shortcut home. Let's take the shortcut through the woods. I used a shortcut to calculate the total weight. There are no shortcuts to learning another language. Mistakes were made because too many shortcuts were taken. Verb are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Get The Recipe 13 of 19 Ravioli Lasagna Slash your meal-prep time with this smart shortcut: sub in refrigerated cheese ravioli for layers of noodles. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2024 Switching between the different threads stiffens the narrative, forcing it to take shortcuts and assume an uneven pace in order to give each part of the plot its due. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 For proof, look at the popularity of the many shortcuts available to us that promise all sorts of healthful outcomes. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024 The shortcut needs permission to display your custom message as a notification. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 This is because users can unknowingly import shortcuts that might exploit CVE-2024-23204. Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 In an era where streaming platforms are scrambling to fill their content coffers, reworking existing I.P. has become a reliable shortcut to bankability. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024 Those range from loose voter registration standards to provisions that contradict Arizona's laws and constitution to procedural shortcuts that minimize public involvement. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Frozen sweet potato, bottle salsa, and canned beans are easy shortcuts that boost the flavor of this egg recipe for breakfast. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
And the third is that the death penalty shortcuts or circumvents the possibility of redemption. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb. 2024 Today, Lover Lane serves the town as a regular road and shortcut from Furnace Hill Road to County Road F. City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County In Milwaukee, Lovers Lane is split into two parts of a 40-mile highway, connected by Mayfair Road and 108th Street. Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024 Diverting around Africa can take as much as 25% longer than using the Suez Canal shortcut between Asia and Europe, adding to costs that may ultimately be passed on to consumers. Christian Wienberg, Fortune, 30 Dec. 2023 And what better shortcut than the oh-so-convenient power of a set? Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2023 YouTube shortcuts: On your computer, tap keys 0 through 9 to skip to a specific percentage of the video. Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2023 The Quick Panel—which houses shortcuts for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more—now features brightness settings by default. Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 10 Aug. 2023 Take the stress out of dinner with saucy skillet recipes, quick-prep pastas, shortcut salads and soups, and more easy meal ideas. 01 Queso Fundido Torta View Recipe Mexican dinner recipes in less than seven ingredients? Kristy Alpert, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2023 Create custom macros and shortcuts to streamline your gameplay and gain a competitive edge. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 7 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shortcut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of shortcut was in 1637

Dictionary Entries Near shortcut

Cite this Entry

“Shortcut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortcut. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shortcut

1 of 2 noun
short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət How to pronounce shortcut (audio)
-ˈkət
: a shorter, quicker, or easier way
a shortcut through the woods
a shortcut to fame

shortcut

2 of 2 verb
shortcut; shortcutting
: to take or use a shortcut

More from Merriam-Webster on shortcut

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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