Pronunciation: /ʃɔrt/

Definitions of short

noun a small amount of time

Example Sentences

A1 I need to buy a new pair of shorts for the summer.

A2 She always wears shorts when she goes running.

B1 I prefer wearing shorts over pants in hot weather.

B2 He packed a few pairs of shorts for his beach vacation.

C1 The shorts he wore were made of a breathable fabric.

C2 Her designer shorts were the envy of everyone at the party.

adjective measuring a small distance from end to end

Example Sentences

A1 I am short.

A2 She has short hair.

B1 The meeting was short and to the point.

B2 The novel had a short but impactful ending.

C1 The short film won several awards at the festival.

C2 His short temper often caused conflicts with his colleagues.

adverb in a small amount of time

Example Sentences

A1 She is short.

A2 He ran short distances.

B1 The meeting was cut short.

B2 The novel was too short for my liking.

C1 The film was shortlisted for an award.

C2 The professor's lecture was short but informative.

Examples of short in a Sentence

formal The meeting was cut short due to a scheduling conflict.

informal I'll be taking a short break before starting on the next task.

slang Let's make this quick and short, I have other things to do.

figurative His temper is notoriously short, so be careful what you say around him.

Grammatical Forms of short

past tense

shortened

plural

shorts

comparative

shorter

superlative

shortest

present tense

shortens

future tense

will shorten

perfect tense

has shortened

continuous tense

is shortening

singular

short

positive degree

short

infinitive

to shorten

gerund

shortening

participle

shortened

Origin and Evolution of short

First Known Use: 0825 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'short' originated from the Old English word 'sceort' which meant 'not long, not tall'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'short' has evolved to not only describe physical length or height, but also to refer to a brief duration, a small amount, or a concise statement.