shortens

present tense third-person singular of shorten

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shortens Hot water can cause shrinking, fraying, and pilling, which shortens the lifespan of your towels. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 If a stage is a tenth of the path, then even cutting it to zero shortens the path by a tenth at most. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Running them through the washer too frequently breaks down elastic and shortens their usable life. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 That arrangement shortens the distance that signals need to travel between processing components. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026 Uneven tire wear that shortens tire life and affects handling. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 And choosing a washer with a higher spin speed (up to about 1,000 RPM) removes more water before drying, which shortens air-dry time significantly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026 Browning the meat first not only builds flavor on its exterior but also shortens the overall cooking time. — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The model promotes brand consistencey, reduces costs, shortens lead times and helps build a traceable supply chain. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortens
Verb
  • Automating classification while reserving human review for high-risk cases strengthens governance, improves compliance and reduces the risk of sensitive data exposure.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Northrop Grumman slashes overall weight and reduces total part counts, manufacturing combat-ready autonomous jets at a fraction of typical costs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Unseasonal weather that curtails feasting on the scrumptious sushi served on the roof terrace from May to October.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Still, if the strait remains closed—and particularly if the United States curtails diesel fuel exports—countries across the regionwill face higher energy import costs that will weigh on agricultural production and drive inflation.
    — DAN RESTREPO, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Its title abbreviates the spring/summer 2026 season, dropping the album directly into the fashion calendar.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • That’s a tactic city financers used on several other bond projects as well, said Molly Scarbrough, a deputy program manager for the Denver GO Bond Program, which abbreviates general obligation bond.
    — Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The front finally moves through on Friday, but some heavy rain will still be possible early, before the chance of rain decreases into the weekend.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The Nebraska researchers also found that hafnia becomes more stable as its thickness decreases.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shortens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortens. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster