shorten

verb

short·​en ˈshȯr-tᵊn 

shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ 

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to reduce the length or duration of

b

: to cause to seem short

2

a

: to reduce in power or efficiency

is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem

—Isaiah 50:2 (Revised Standard Version)

b

obsolete : to deprive of effect

3

: to add fat to (something, such as pastry dough) in order to make tender and flaky

intransitive verb

: to become short or shorter

shortener

ˈshȯrt-nər

ˈshȯr-tᵊn-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• abbreviate
• abridge
• curtail
• cut back
• dock
• elide
• syncopate
• truncate

Choose the Right Synonym for shorten

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of shorten in a Sentence

shorten a pair of pants

He had to shorten the speech.

“Franklin D. Roosevelt” is often shortened to “FDR.”

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump administration's cuts to health research will shorten life expectancy and threaten the lives of all Americans, according to university union leaders and scientists. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

Who Makes the Best of Things Image On Thursday, the United States was insisting that a standard-issue statement from the Group of 7 nations, drafted by Canada to mark the third anniversary of the invasion next Monday, should be drastically shortened. —David E. Sanger, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Your team can shorten sales cycles and accelerate time to revenue by consolidating information across documents and applications—ensuring that everyone has access to accurate, real-time data. —Rena Fallstrom, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

The latter type of metamorphosis creates issues that can’t be easily altered, for instance, shortening a now too-long coat that no longer drapes over a gut. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for shorten

• fortin
• horton

Kids Definition

shorten

verb

short·​en ˈshȯrt-ᵊn 

shortened; shortening ˈshȯrt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to make or become short or shorter

2

: to add shortening to (as pastry dough)

shortener

-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun