short

Comparative

shorter

Superlative

shortest

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

1. 1.Having a small distance from one end or edge to another, either horizontally or vertically.

   • I'm a bit short on cash.

2. 2.Of a person, living being, or object, having a comparatively small height.

   • I'm a bit short on cash.

3. 3.Having little duration.

   • Our meeting was a short six minutes today. Every day for the past month it’s been at least twenty minutes long.
   • Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans, and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.

4. 4.Of a word or phrase, constituting an abbreviation (for another) or shortened form (of another).

   • "Phone" is short for "telephone" and "asap" short for "as soon as possible".

Adverb

Adverb

×

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

1. 1.Abruptly, curtly, briefly.

   • He cut me short repeatedly in the meeting.
   • The boss got a message and cut the meeting short.
   • They had to stop short to avoid hitting the dog in the street.

2. 2.Unawares.

   • We were caught short by the sudden hailstorm.
   • The recent developments at work caught them short.

3. 3.Without achieving a goal or requirement.

   • His speech fell short of what was expected.

4. 4.Relatively far from the batsman and hence bouncing higher than normal; opposite of full.

Overall

Common· #669

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Uncommon

Antonyms

• long
• tall

Synonyms

• little

Word family

• shortage
• shortly