short story

noun

Synonyms of short storynext
: an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot

Examples of short story in a Sentence

her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
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.
Taylor’s short time with the whales in their annual migration inspired her to write a short story. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 1 June 2026 Since then, the latter has authored over 40 fantasy and science fiction works, including novels, graphic novels, young adult novels and short stories which have collectively sold over 50 million copies worldwide. Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026 The Argentine writer’s short story, first published in 1941, imagines an infinite archive of books in which the alphabet has been configured into every possible combination, resulting in a limitless array of texts meaning everything and nothing. Raphael Helfand, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026 His other books include a sequel, The Committed, and the bestselling short story collection The Refugees. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short story was in 1861

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Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

short story

noun
: a short work of fiction usually dealing with a few characters and a single event

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