shortcut

1 of 2

noun

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

called also hot key

shortcut

2 of 2

verb

shortcut; shortcutting

transitive verb

: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut

also : circumvent

intransitive verb

: to take or use a shortcut

Synonyms of shortcut

Verb

• circumvent
• bypass
• avoid
• evade

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 Web

Noun

There are fights over funding for climate projects, utility protections from wildfire liability and controversial shortcuts on environmental reviews, all against the backdrop of Trump-era rollbacks. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Those features can also be useful from Monday through Friday, especially when the route to class or work includes damaged pavement, construction zones and gravel shortcuts. — New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

OpenAI is also allegedly adding homework reminders that can recognize when a teen appears to be trying to shortcut an assignment and redirect them toward Study Mode. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026

New homework reminders will also send queries to Study Mode if ChatGPT detects a teen is trying to shortcut an assignment. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for shortcut

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut

Kids 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