Choose the Right Synonym for shorten

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent. shorten implies reduction in length or duration. shorten a speech curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy. ceremonies curtailed because of rain abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part. using an abbreviated title abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result. the abridged version of the novel retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive. declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of shorten in a Sentence

shorten a pair of pants He had to shorten the speech. “Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.”

Recent Examples on the Web Retailers deploy MicroStrategy’s analytics to find the responses reps use at contact centers that best help customers and shorten calls. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 Huainan, a city in Anhui Province, ordered banks to extend more money and shorten loan approval times, as well as lower the mortgage rates and down payment requirements for first-time buyers. — New York Times, 20 June 2022 Toxic air can impact every major organ in the body, shorten lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put people more at risk from Covid, according to an environmental charity. — Jamie Hailstone, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Fuller asked residents whether the city should keep the regulation, shorten it, or get rid of it altogether. — John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Nov. 2021 Adjustable poles are also popular among backcountry users, who will lengthen them on the climb and shorten them for the descent. — Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2021 In total, roughly 86% of Iceland’s entire working population has now either moved to working shorter hours, or have gained the right to shorten their working hours, the study says. — Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 July 2021 Wisconsin wildlife officials are considering revising wolf regulations to prohibit night hunting and shorten the window for registering kills after hunters blew past their quota in February. — Todd Richmond, Star Tribune, 13 May 2021 With consumer habits shifting heavily towards at-home options, some theaters made deals with studios to shorten that window. — Adam Epstein, Quartz, 5 May 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shorten.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About shorten