Tikibu: pronunciation dictionary with use examples

Word: shorten
IPA transcription: [ʃ'ɔɹtən]
verb meaning of the word
  • Synonyms: shorten
    Meaning: make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to illness"
  • Synonyms: abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce
    Meaning: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"
Usage examples
  • But first I must speak to my people--I shall have to shorten wages for a time."
  • Next day it took less than an hour to reach the ledge, and David was sure that he could shorten the time even more when he was familiar with the goat trail.
  • There was a steep footpath between the upper and the lower road, which I climbed to shorten the way, as the children had taught me, but I believed that Mrs. Todd would find it inaccessible, unless she had occasion to seek me in great haste.