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.
Since making her debut in 2009, Son Bo-Mi has written numerous novels and short story collections, including Dear Ralph Lauren, Little Village, Bringing Them the Lindy Hop, and The Fireflies of Manhattan. Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 These invasion fictions took a range of forms, from short stories and pamphlets to novellas and full-length novels, and proliferated especially in the late-Victorian and Edwardian period leading up to World War I, which brought the subgenre’s brief flourishing to an end. Ivan Kreilkamp, JSTOR Daily, 10 June 2026 What prompted you then to revisit his short story year? Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026 The project grew out of a short story Sophia wrote in college inspired by observing her younger brother’s teenage years in New York. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 June 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 13 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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