shorten — to make or become shorter in length, time, or distance
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make or become shorter in length, time, or distance
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʃɔːrtən/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother always shortens her stories when she sees us yawning.
- The new highway will shorten our commute by 30 minutes.
- He shortened his vacation to attend his best friend's wedding.
shorten
VERB[/ˈʃɔːrtən/]
to make or become shorter in length, time, or distance
They shortened the meeting by removing everything unnecessary.
The shortcut shortened the journey and brought the ending closer much faster. (SHORT + END → to shorten something is to bring the END closer by making the path SHORTER)
He shortens the loaf to serve a smaller portion, hoping it brings good fortune.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'sceort' meaning 'short', combined with the suffix '-en' which forms verbs meaning 'to make or become'. The root traces back to Proto-Germanic origins.
Breakdown
short (adjective: not long in length or duration) + -en (suffix: to make or become) = shorten (to make or become short)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother always shortens her stories when she sees us yawning.”
“The new highway will shorten our commute by 30 minutes.”
“He shortened his vacation to attend his best friend's wedding.”
“The chef shortened the cooking time by using a pressure cooker.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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