1
as in briefly
in a few words
the sudden closing of the restaurant was announced only with a shortly worded sign: "Out of Business"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in soon
at or within a short time
the meeting will begin shortly, so don't go too far away to find a bathroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shortly
Surveillance footage recovered from the scene showed the Uber driver got into a fender bender with the assailant shortly before the confrontation.
—
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
Another that starts shortly before the gunfire shows Good wave a vehicle past her.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
And a moment of silence was held for Ward shortly before tipoff.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
His last in-person address came shortly before COVID-19 shut down the Capitol in early 2020.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortly
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
Another that starts shortly before the gunfire shows Good wave a vehicle past her.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
And a moment of silence was held for Ward shortly before tipoff.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
His last in-person address came shortly before COVID-19 shut down the Capitol in early 2020.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortly
Adverb
-
David was briefly released on bond while awaiting the retrial.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Earlier this week, Risch spoke with Boise’s KIVI-TV Channel 6, and briefly addressed the matter.—
Kevin Fixler
January 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The Senate rejected a three-year extension last month, but serious bipartisan talks are underway in hopes of finding a compromise soon, reportedly early next week.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
According to a Mercury News report from the time, the neighbor called for help, and was soon joined by another resident who described the apartment as having been ransacked.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Practice answering concisely and confidently in your own voice.—
Kathy Caprino,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
According to researchers at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute, the characteristics of nanotubes can be precisely tuned by selecting specific atomic compositions.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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The result is a workforce that is smaller, less dynamic, and aging faster, precisely when adaptation to technological change requires the opposite.—
Jane Sadowsky,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortly. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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