Shorten Meaning
/ˈʃɔːtn̩/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo make shorter; to abbreviate.
verbTo become shorter.
Sentence Examples
High operating temperatures shorten lubricant life.
Do not shorten the morning by getting up late.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tailor had to ____ the pants because they were too long.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The editor suggested that the author ____ the long introduction to make the story more engaging for readers.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English shortnen, schortenen, equivalent to short + -en (verbal suffix). In some senses, a continuation (in altered form) of Middle English schorten (“to make short, shorten”), from Old English sċortian (“to become short”), from Proto-Germanic *skurtōną (“to shorten”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up."
— [1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 105:
"The full title of the unified system, the South Eastern & London, Chatham & Dover Railways, was decidedly cumbersome, and for the sake of convenience was shortened to the South Eastern & Chatham Railway."
— 1958 November 26, “The Why and the Wherefore: South Eastern & Chatham Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 809:
"Spoiled of his nose, and shorten'd of his ears."
— 1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain."
— 1699, John Dryden, Dedication to His Grace the Duke of Ormond:
"My grandfather, as I said before, was connected with a gang of shorters, and sometimes shortened money, […]"
— 1858, George Borrow, The Romany Rye, volume 2, page 128:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tailor had to ____ the pants because they were too long.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The editor suggested that the author ____ the long introduction to make the story more engaging for readers.