cut short

idiom

: to end (something) earlier than expected
We had to cut our vacation short.
The speech was cut short.

Examples of cut short in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People whose lives were cut short by plague or tuberculosis returned to bring the same illness upon their family members. Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 Wilson senior year was cut short by a collarbone injury. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026 The couple would have been celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary later this month were their lives not suddenly cut short. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026 Her life was cut short at just 43 years old, and her family has had to live with the pain of losing her and not knowing who took her life. Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cut short

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cut short.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cut%20short. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!