short·cut
ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 
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
Christopher Breencalled also hot key
shortcut; shortcutting
: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut
also
: circumvent
: to take or use a shortcut
Synonyms
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 WebPaula Lee, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2024
Begay is aware of deficiencies within her home, and during a severe storm that struck the area in 2010, shortcuts in construction became apparent.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Additional customizations for things like assigning macro shortcuts, lighting, and audio effects can be achieved via the new Keycontrol tool in Logitech’s G Hub software, with key re-mapping capable of giving each key up to 15 different functions.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024
Programming and writing assistants offer shortcuts for crafting code and prose.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Copilot will also be augmented with voice shortcuts, which will support things like pasting text and media, pressing keys, clicking the mouse, as well as opening folders, files, apps, and URLs.
—Michael Muchmore, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024
The seasoned ones know all the shortcuts to get around the course and are particularly adept at sweet-talking patrons to move over just a smidge.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
This is just one of many stories that begin and end in the exact same way, and the sheer power of TikTok is becoming more and more alluring to small artists looking for a shortcut to success.
—Howard Murphy, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
But there are limits to innovation in forestry; there are no simple shortcuts or cost-erasing technologies.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
The blazer and pants (or skirt) combo is a shortcut to looking professional and pulled together at the office.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2024
Begay is aware of deficiencies within her home, and during a severe storm that struck the area in 2010, shortcuts in construction became apparent.
—The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Additional customizations for things like assigning macro shortcuts, lighting, and audio effects can be achieved via the new Keycontrol tool in Logitech’s G Hub software, with key re-mapping capable of giving each key up to 15 different functions.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024
Programming and writing assistants offer shortcuts for crafting code and prose.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Copilot will also be augmented with voice shortcuts, which will support things like pasting text and media, pressing keys, clicking the mouse, as well as opening folders, files, apps, and URLs.
—Michael Muchmore, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024
The seasoned ones know all the shortcuts to get around the course and are particularly adept at sweet-talking patrons to move over just a smidge.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
This is just one of many stories that begin and end in the exact same way, and the sheer power of TikTok is becoming more and more alluring to small artists looking for a shortcut to success.
—Howard Murphy, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
But there are limits to innovation in forestry; there are no simple shortcuts or cost-erasing technologies.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 4 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near shortcut
Cite this Entry
“Shortcut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortcut. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shortcut
1 of 2 noun
short·cut
ˈshȯrt-ˌkət
-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
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