abbreviate

verb

ab·​bre·​vi·​ate ə-ˈbrē-vē-ˌāt How to pronounce abbreviate (audio)
abbreviated; abbreviating

transitive verb

: to make briefer
an abbreviated session
an abbreviated version of the story
especially : to reduce (a word or name) to a shorter form intended to stand for the whole
You can abbreviate the word building as bldg.
"United States of America" is commonly abbreviated to "USA."
abbreviator noun

Did you know?

Abbreviate and abridge both mean "to make shorter," so it probably will come as no surprise that both derive from Latin brevis, meaning "short." Abbreviate first appeared in print in English in the 15th century and derives from abbreviātus, the past participle of Late Latin abbreviāre, which in turn can be traced back to brevis. Abridge, which appeared a century earlier, also comes from abbreviāre but took a side trip through the Anglo-French abreger before arriving in Middle English as abreggen. Brevis is also the ancestor of English brief itself, as well as brevity and breviary ("a prayer book" or "a brief summary"), among other words.

Choose the Right Synonym for abbreviate

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of abbreviate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The big name in organic certifications, and organic cotton certification specifically is the Global Organic Textile Standard, generally abbreviated as GOTS. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024 In 2024, analysts project a roughly $700 million impact to earnings before interest and taxes, a measure of operating income commonly abbreviated as EBIT. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024 Though, as with numerous competitors’ apps, many of the data pages are abbreviated. PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024 Below, our Istanbul Airport food guide for the best places to eat at the new $12 billion hub (opened in 2018, it's often abbreviated as IST or IGA). Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abbreviate 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abbreviaten, borrowed from Late Latin abbreviātus, past participle of abbreviāre "to make shorter" — more at abridge

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abbreviate was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near abbreviate

Cite this Entry

“Abbreviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abbreviate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

abbreviate

verb
ab·​bre·​vi·​ate ə-ˈbrē-vē-ˌāt How to pronounce abbreviate (audio)
abbreviated; abbreviating
: to make briefer : shorten
especially : to reduce (as a word) to a shorter form intended to stand for the whole
Etymology

Middle English abbreviaten "abbreviate," from Latin abbreviatus "made short," from abbreviare "to shorten," from earlier ad- "to" and brevis "short" — related to abridge, brief

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