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short story
noun
: an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot
Examples of short story in a Sentence
her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
Recent Examples on the Web
The tales shared on the show were adaptations of public domain fairy tales, urban legends and short stories that were brought to life by an impressive young cast that included Ross Hull, Daniel DeSanto and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
David Prior’s and Jennifer Kent’s episodes are standouts, but nearly every short story is well acted and immaculately designed (including the episodic prologues that feature del Toro tinkering with a gigantic physical prop of the titular cabinet) and will leave you wanting more.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024
In English, the four were respectively published as short stories in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, Harpers and GQ.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Oct. 2024
In the 21st century, Moore moved away from writing comics in favor of short stories (like 2022's collection Illuminations) and novels (like 2016's Jerusalem and this year's The Great When, the first of a planned series).
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 28 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near short story
Cite this Entry
“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20story. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
short story
noun
: a short work of fiction usually dealing with a few characters and a single event
More from Merriam-Webster on short story
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about short story
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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