short list

noun

: a limited list of important items or individuals
especially : a list of candidates for final consideration (as for a position or a prize)
short-list transitive verb

Examples of short list in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Kennedy’s campaign told The Times that the 70-year-old is considering New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura as a running mate along with others on a short list. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 One of the co-sponsors of the bill is Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, the No. 3 Republican, whose name is on every short list to be Mr. Trump’s running mate and who is rarely caught out of lock step with the former president. Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Oakland Tech is on that short list of teams that have the height to match up with Branham. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Universal had a very short list on its hands, but Edwards quickly rose to the top. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 Create a short list of vendors and perform a deep evaluation. Matt Kimball, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 How to find a hotel with the best customer service A short list of hotel chains that offer terrific service is a good start. Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 The short list of Heat participants who have won the event includes Miner, who claimed the dunk crown in 1993 and 1995, and Jones, who was the dunk champion in 2020. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 The district’s seven-member school board chose Choudhury for a short list after reviewing applications from 60 candidates. Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'short list.' 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

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short list was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near short list

Cite this Entry

“Short list.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20list. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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