shorten

shorten — verb

1. for the length, distance, or duration of something to be reduced, either because

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

for the length, distance, or duration of something to be reduced, either because someone deliberately cuts or reduces it, or because it naturally becomes less over time

Example

Ilan shortened the sleeves of his jacket because they covered his hands.

transitive: shorten + object (physical length)

The boss decided to shorten the meeting to allow staff to leave early.

transitive: shorten + time period

Common collocations
  • shorten a dress
  • shorten the sleeves
  • shorten a meeting
  • shorten the waiting time
  • shorten the gap
  • shorten the distance
  • shorten by half
  • shorten significantly
  • days shorten
  • queue shortens
Synonyms
  • reduce

    broader meaning — can apply to amount, cost, or degree, not just length or time

  • cut

    more informal and active; suggests a deliberate reduction ('cut the speech short')

  • abbreviate

    formal; mainly used for words, texts, or time ('abbreviate a name' / 'abbreviate a visit')

  • trim

    implies cutting off a small amount from the edges or ends ('trim the grass')

Antonyms
  • lengthen

    the direct opposite — to make or become longer in space or time

  • extend

    to make something last longer or reach further than before

Grammar Patterns

shorten + object

shorten + by + amount

subject + shorten (intransitive)

Usage Note

Works for both physical length (clothes, distance) and abstract duration (time, meetings). The amount of reduction is introduced with 'by' (shorten by two inches / by ten minutes). Frequently used in the passive in formal or written English: 'The course was shortened from ten weeks to six.'

Common Mistakes

I need to short my trousers.
I need to shorten my trousers.
'short' is an adjective, not a verb; add '-en' to form the verb.
The days are shorting in winter.
The days shorten in winter.
the verb form is 'shorten', not 'short'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Shorten is specific to length, distance, or duration — it is the direct opposite of lengthen. Reduce is far broader and can apply to numbers, costs, speed, or quantity ('reduce the price / reduce the risk'). Cut is informal and suggests a forceful or deliberate reduction ('cut the budget / cut class time by half'); it carries an active, sometimes abrupt tone. Abbreviate is formal and restricted to language or time ('abbreviate the month of September to Sept.'). Trim implies removing a small, often neat amount from the edges or excess ('trim the hedge / trim the essay by a few paragraphs'). For everyday situations about clothing or travel time, shorten is the most natural choice: 'The tailor shortened the trousers.' For budgets or statistics, use reduce: 'The company reduced its spending.'

shorten ↗reduce ↗cut ↗abbreviatetrim ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • shorten the gap
  • shorten the distance
  • shorten the odds
  • shorten the waiting list
  • shorten one's stay

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Shorten is formed from the adjective 'short' (from Old English 'sceort', meaning 'not long') plus the verb suffix '-en', which turns adjectives into verbs meaning 'to make or become X' (as in darken, widen, deepen). The verb 'shorten' appears in Middle English around the 14th century, replacing the older verb 'short' that had been used since Old English times.