short story
noun
: 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
The most recent Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, from 2022, found that less than half of Americans had read a single book in the previous 12 months; only 38 percent had read a novel or short story.
—
Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
The film is adapted from short story Hungry Heart by Israeli author Eshkol Nevo, whose work previously inspired Moretti’s 2021 film Three Floors Up.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on James Thurber’s 1939 short story, starred Ben Stiller in the role of the daydreamer made famous by Danny Kaye in the 1947 Samuel Goldwyn original.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
This is not surprising, considering that Gallant was one of the most prolific short story writers of her era.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2025
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Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
The film is adapted from short story Hungry Heart by Israeli author Eshkol Nevo, whose work previously inspired Moretti’s 2021 film Three Floors Up.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on James Thurber’s 1939 short story, starred Ben Stiller in the role of the daydreamer made famous by Danny Kaye in the 1947 Samuel Goldwyn original.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
This is not surprising, considering that Gallant was one of the most prolific short story writers of her era.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for short story
Cite this Entry
“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
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