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
Christopher Breencalled also hot key
shortcut; shortcutting
: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut
also
: circumvent
: to take or use a shortcut
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
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
The Verdict on Ree’s Pizza-Flavored Ravioli Recipe Thanks to wonton wrappers and jarred marinara, Ree Drummond’s shortcut ravioli is a breeze to bring to the table any night of the week.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025
Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Kennedy's move, announced Tuesday on X, appears to effectively shortcut a process set up by the agency's outside advisers to discuss and make changes to the CDC's influential vaccination guidance, which is directly tied to what insurers are required to cover and liability protections.
—Paula Cohen, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Research from the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied describes this process as a mental shortcut that the brain takes in order to estimate how likely an event will be.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
The Verdict on Ree’s Pizza-Flavored Ravioli Recipe Thanks to wonton wrappers and jarred marinara, Ree Drummond’s shortcut ravioli is a breeze to bring to the table any night of the week.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025
Verb
In short, young, ambitious professionals might be willing to take the pay cut (and decreased job security) for the opportunity to shortcut their career growth.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Kennedy's move, announced Tuesday on X, appears to effectively shortcut a process set up by the agency's outside advisers to discuss and make changes to the CDC's influential vaccination guidance, which is directly tied to what insurers are required to cover and liability protections.
—Paula Cohen, CBS News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
Cite this Entry
“Shortcut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortcut. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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