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.
The writer and performer composes poems, short stories and plays that highlight joys and contend with struggles. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 13 Mar. 2026 Past seasons have focused on Finnegans Wake, 1,001 Nights, the Hebrew Bible, Journey to the West, the American short story, and The Brothers Karamazov. Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026 This tracks with the film’s origin, a 19th-century Russian short story. Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026 Last year Prada commissioned a short story collection from Ottessa Moshfegh. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 9 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 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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