shorten

pronunciation

How to pronounce shorten in British English: UK [ˈʃɔːtn] word uk audio image

How to pronounce shorten in American English: US [ˈʃɔːrtn] word us audio image

Verb:

make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
make short or shorter
become short or shorter
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

Word Origin

shorten (v.): 1510s, "make shorter;" 1560s, "grow shorter," from short (adj.) + -en (1); the earlier form of the verb was simply short, from Old English sceortian "to grow short, become short; run short, fail," gescyrtan "to make short."

Synonym

v.

limit retrench trim lessen down cut shrink contract dock clip short decrease reduce diminish prune pollard slash lop curtail shear

v.

shrink compress edit abridge synopsize summarize condense abbreviate brief boil digest narrow down breviate

Antonym

vt. & vi.

lengthen expand extend

Example

1. In february I urged fixed-income investors to shorten maturities .

2. Stay low : shorten your running stride and keep your feet lower to the ground .

3. Shorten the hems on your bargain pants and you 'll look chic rather than vaguely like you 're trying to sweep the streets .

4. They also want to shorten experiments to three months rather than six .

5. By pushing heels up , such shoes in effect shorten the calf muscles .

more: >How to Use "shorten" with Example Sentences