short of

preposition

: other than

especially : of a lesser degree than

had few options short of replacing the motor

Examples of short of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Designing semiconductors isn’t for the impatient, inexperienced or short of cash. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

The result fell well short of the $10 million estimate Heritage attached to the ball. — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Mizzou falls just short of 10 wins After an 8-5 season with an eighth-place SEC finish, the Tigers were voted to finish 10th this season. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026

According to the International Game Fish Association, the marlin fell just 142 pounds short of the all tackle world-record Atlantic blue marlin caught off Brazil in 1992. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for short of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove