shortcut

1 of 2

noun

short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 

also -ˈkət

1

: a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken

2

: a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure

a shortcut to success

3

: a key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard programmed to perform a specific function when pressed

You can open any item by clicking it or by assigning it a keyboard shortcut.

—Christopher Breen

called also hot key

shortcut

2 of 2

verb

shortcut; shortcutting

transitive verb

: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut

also : circumvent

intransitive verb

: to take or use a shortcut

Synonyms of shortcut

Verb

• circumvent
• bypass
• avoid
• evade

Examples of shortcut in a Sentence

Noun

Wait, I know a shortcut. Turn left here.

We took a shortcut home.

Let's take the shortcut through the woods.

I used a shortcut to calculate the total weight.

There are no shortcuts to learning another language.

Mistakes were made because too many shortcuts were taken.

Verb

are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The canal’s prolonged closure caused the price of oil, tea and other commodities to spike for European consumers, who depended on the shipping shortcut for goods from Asia. —Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026

The prototype is a high-speed shortcut to the building blocks of future quantum computers and electronics. —Tara Molina, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

Verb

The company’s services are designed to work in alignment with how modern search and discovery systems interpret information, rather than trying to game or shortcut them. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

Below, the time-saving cleaning methods and shortcuts our editors return to again and again. —Martha Stewart Editors, Martha Stewart, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for shortcut

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut

Kids Definition

shortcut

1 of 2 noun

short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 

-ˈkət

: a shorter, quicker, or easier way

a shortcut through the woods

a shortcut to fame

shortcut

2 of 2 verb

shortcut; shortcutting

: to take or use a shortcut