shortly

adverb

short·​ly ˈshȯrt-lē 

1

a

: in a few words : briefly

b

: in an abrupt manner

2

a

: in a short time

we will be there shortly

b

: at a short interval

shortly after sunset

Synonyms

• briefly
• compactly
• concisely
• crisply
• curtly
• elliptically
• laconically
• pithily
• succinctly
• summarily
• tersely

Examples of shortly in a Sentence

He left shortly after you did.

“I can't help you right now,” he said shortly.

Recent Examples on the Web

The agency was established shortly before the canal was returned to Panama. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2024

The large cone multi vortex was spotted southeast of the city of El Campo shortly before 2.20 p.m. local time. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

An early entrant in the U.S. robotaxi market, Cruise grounded its driverless operations in October 2023, shortly before Vogt’s departure. —Lora Kolodny,jennifer Elias, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024

The crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m. between Exits 24 and 28 on the northbound side of the highway, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Plainfield Fire Company #1. Fire officials said the crash involved minor injuries. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shortly

• shortly after

Kids Definition

shortly

adverb

short·​ly ˈshȯrt-lē 

1

: in a few words : briefly

2

: in or within a short time : soon

will arrive shortly

shortly after sunset