shorten

1 of 2

verb

short·​en ˈshȯr-tᵊn 

shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ 

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to reduce the length or duration of

b

: to cause to seem short

2

a

: to reduce in power or efficiency

Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?

—Isaiah 50:2 (Revised Standard Version)

b

obsolete : to deprive of effect

3

: to add fat to (something, such as pastry dough) in order to make tender and flaky

intransitive verb

: to become short or shorter

shortener

ˈshȯrt-nər, 

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-ər 

noun

shortener

2 of 2

noun

short·​en·​er -t(ᵊ)nə(r) 

plural -s

: one that shortens

Synonyms of shorten

Verb

• reduce
• curtail
• truncate
• abbreviate
• abridge
• cut back

Choose the Right Synonym for shorten

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of shorten in a Sentence

Verb

shorten a pair of pants

He had to shorten the speech.

“Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That could shorten deployment timelines while limiting additional vehicle weight. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

The Paris Court of Appeals on Tuesday shortened the ban on running for office to 45 months, with 30 of those suspended and the remaining 15 months backdated to her March 2025 sentence. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2026

But for those who might be at higher risk of complications, antibiotics sometimes help to shorten the illness. — Alice Park, Time, 8 July 2026

Each of the infants was treated with an antitoxin produced and distributed by the state public health department, said spokesperson Beth Deines, which shortens hospital stays and reduces the need for breathing machines. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for shorten

• fortin
• horton

Kids Definition

shorten

verb

short·​en ˈshȯrt-ᵊn 

shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to make or become short or shorter

2

: to add shortening to (as pastry dough)

shortener

-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun