shorten

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

Synonyms of shorten

• 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

shorten a pair of pants

He had to shorten the speech.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Prior to its cancellation, the parade route had been shortened as a heat mitigation effort. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Be sure to sample the beer at Soo Brewing Company, shortened to Soo Brew by locals. — Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Semiconductor companies and universities are trying to shorten their feedback loop to meet the challenges of the AI era. — Lucas Laursen, IEEE Spectrum, 2 July 2026

Telomeres, which sit at the ends of chromosomes to protect genetic material, shorten with age and are a reliable marker of biological aging. — New Atlas, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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