How to Use short in a Sentence

short

1 of 4 adjective
Definition of shortnext
Synonyms for shortnext
  • The movie was very short.
  • You have done a lot in a short space of time.
  • He is short for his age.
  • Life's too short to worry about the past.
  • She has made great progress in a few short years.
  • I've only lived here for a short time.
  • One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other.
  • He visited for two short weeks.
  • This, in short, is a book that gets a lot of things wrong.
    — Timothy Shenk, The New Republic, 12 Apr. 2022
  • The grass is short and flat, the trees are weirdly stiff.
    — Julie Muncy, Wired, 24 Nov. 2020
  • If Texas is short on loose leaf, the south is here to help.
    — Ariana Garcia, Chron, 27 Jan. 2022
  • Start by wearing them in the house or on a short walk around the park.
    — Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2022
  • Opting out in the short term can mean big wins down the road.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 5 July 2021
  • The pilot does a lot of setup in a short amount of time.
    — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 19 May 2020
  • Turnbacks cut trips short for half the trains on a line.
    — Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2020
  • Their hair is always worn long, the skirts short, sporty, and tight.
    — Jihan Forbes, Allure, 19 May 2022
  • Every four years, the shortest month of the year gets just a tad bit longer.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
  • This should be done in a short, quick back-and-forth motion.
    — Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 10 June 2023
  • That didn’t work when some of those irons didn’t always find the short grass.
    — Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2022
  • In the short term, this can lead to dizziness or fainting.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 27 Jan. 2021
  • Many of those yards and points have been piled up in short order.
    — John Holler, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, 23 Dec. 2019
  • If the back of the neck gets too short, place a pillow under your head.
    — Justicia Declue, Philly.com, 28 Feb. 2018
  • Turn right and follow the road a short way, then look for a trail marker on the left.
    — oregonlive, 10 Oct. 2021
  • Still, Freiman was well aware that his store wouldn't be profitable in the short term.
    — Michael Waters, Smithsonian, 20 June 2019
  • In short, make sure that your journal (and your brain) is a safe space.
    — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2023
  • So, yes, a year on Venus is shorter than a day on Venus.
    — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2020
  • Bontrager will set the tubes out and train the dogs one at a time for short, 10– to 15-minute sessions.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 22 June 2023
  • In short, the month of November has produced some of the best songs yet.
    — Heran Mamo, Billboard, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Lawmakers fell one vote short in their override attempt last month.
    — Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Volatiles are chemicals that can jump between solid and gas phases in a short temperature change.
    — Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
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short

2 of 4 adverb
  • He threw the ball short.
  • The Sweet 16 bid fell short when the shots wouldn't fall down the stretch.
    — John Marshall, ajc, 21 Mar. 2021
  • The gains were short-lived, and the progress is now in peril.
    — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2021
  • The skid was short-lived, as Zionsville won 12 of its next 13.
    — Matthew Vantryon, Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2018
  • The run of bad news might have seemed, at first, to be short-lived.
    — Hilda Bastian, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2021
  • Yet again, it was said that the strains would be short-lived.
    — Priya Dharshini, Quartz, 28 Nov. 2021
  • But the impact to crows was short-lived, Beissinger said.
    — Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2022
  • The shot was short, much like many of Leonard’s misses down the stretch.
    — Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Feb. 2020
  • This isn’t the first time Adam’s come up short before the show ends.
    — Megan Stein, Country Living, 8 May 2019
  • But the glory was short-lived, as was the breakthrough.
    — New York Times, 28 Feb. 2021
  • Even that shot was right on line but just short, grazing the front of the rim.
    — Mike Hutton, Post-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2018
  • But the joy was short-lived when Senegal scored a third goal.
    — James Montague, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2022
  • Keanu Reeves' dabble on the small screen was short-lived.
    — Glenn Garner, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2022
  • But the peace is short-lived, ended by the abrupt outbreak of the Dakota War of 1862.
    — Diane Cole, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
  • But the good news was short lived for adult theaters like the Oregon.
    — Katie Shepherd, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Mar. 2020
  • Will Kirk Cousins come up short in the next big moment?
    — Paul Hodowanic, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2019
  • Self has had too many teams that were good enough to be here but fell short.
    — Sam Mellinger, kansascity, 30 Mar. 2018
  • The other time so many things fell short, Ohio State lost.
    — Nathan Baird, cleveland, 30 Oct. 2021
  • The motor is very short ranged, in the region of a few hundred yards.
    — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2019
  • The Wolves went for 2 and the win after their final score but came up short.
    — Ben Thomas | [email protected], al, 13 July 2023
  • The valuable part is that he can be used short, he can be used long.
    — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 1 June 2021
  • Adult beetles are short-lived and active during the heat of the day.
    — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2020
  • Yet the wave of the most recent variant appears to have been short-lived.
    — Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2022
  • And then it was discovered that the race was set short: 25.4 miles.
    — Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2023
  • While a storm may briefly cool things off, relief from the heat would be short-lived.
    — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 24 Aug. 2020
  • That lead was also short-lived with a bad bounce leading to the own goal that cost them the win.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2019
  • The pitch was made in an informal phone call and the exchange was short.
    — Peter Nicholas, WSJ, 12 May 2018
  • For his part, Giuliani talked a big game but came up short.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2023
  • The three researchers were trying to show that there couldn’t be too many of these points, but so far, all their techniques had come up short.
    — Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
  • Stanford fell behind, committed 21 turnovers, missed countless layups and a late rally came up short in the final game of senior star Haley Jones.
    — Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
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short

3 of 4 noun
  • The short before the main movie was very funny.
  • The shirts and tanks are longer in the back, and the shorts and pants have pockets.
    — Natalia E. Contreras, Indianapolis Star, 18 Sep. 2019
  • The man’s hands were tucked into the front of his shorts.
    — Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 11 Oct. 2019
  • The child was wearing green shorts and socks at the time.
    — Staff, cleveland.com, 12 May 2018
  • Here are the shorts to help you get prepared for the hill.
    — Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 26 Dec. 2019
  • But that’s usually the case in the first day of shorts.
    — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2019
  • The players agreed to remove their shorts for the game.
    — Alvaro Montano, Houston Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2018
  • The man was in his 50s and wearing shorts and a white T-shirt.
    — David Harris, OrlandoSentinel.com, 14 July 2018
  • The Kings and Pelicans seem ready to scare the shorts off somebody in the first round.
    — Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2024
  • In the doorbell video, the man wears only shorts, a watch and a cross around his neck.
    — Jess Nocera, baltimoresun.com, 3 Sep. 2019
  • He was last seen wearing a white shirt and red and black shorts.
    — Isa Kaufman-Geballe, CNN, 20 Mar. 2023
  • Each of the Simpson children has starred in their own short.
    — Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 15 Apr. 2022
  • The shorts, which are also black, have three metallic stripes down the side.
    — Sam McDowell, kansascity, 7 Feb. 2018
  • Wear the hoodie and the leggings on the trails or the shorts and T-shirt to the hotel pool — with this set, the world is yours.
    — Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
  • She was last seen wearing a long-sleeve green shirt and black shorts.
    — Dana Branham, Dallas News, 25 Aug. 2019
  • The famous tennis player and mom wore a crop top and jean shorts in the pic.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 15 Apr. 2023
  • The shorts are available in blue, coral, brown, and pink with sizes ranging from XS-4XL.
    — Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2023
  • Nick and Finn joined the cast as younger versions of the short's main characters.
    — Mckinley Franklin, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024
  • He was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt and black shorts with red and white stripes on the side.
    — Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 1 Apr. 2020
  • This effortless two-piece polyester shorts set is so easy to wear and to care for.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Woman's Day Magazine, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Birch, in shorts and a T-shirt, listened with a quizzical frown.
    — Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2023
  • And she’s dressed in her adorable oversized pink T-shirt and purple shorts, of course.
    — Melissa Epifano, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023
  • This month, three shirts, two dresses, and a pair of shorts arrived at my door.
    — Jamie Ducharme, Time, 12 June 2023
  • Gwen looked stunning in a cutout top and fringed denim shorts.
    — Kelly O'Sullivan, Country Living, 17 Aug. 2019
  • There’s a sense of melancholy in all your work, from your shorts to your features.
    — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2023
  • Henceforth the baristas must wear at least shorts and tank tops.
    — George Will, National Review, 4 Oct. 2017
  • Try keeping enough socks, shorts, t-shirts, and school clothes washed for three young men.
    — Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 14 May 2023
  • Omar wiped his hands on his shorts and grabbed one end of the rope, again with his good hand; the other hung by his side.
    — Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024
  • One was wearing a red bandana, gray shirt and black shorts.
    — Jeanne Houck, Cincinnati.com, 6 Aug. 2019
  • While the actor isn’t embracing shorts and and tank tops just yet, her Easter Sunday outfit mastered the awkward period in between the dregs of winter and the start of spring.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
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short

4 of 4 verb
  • The hair dryer must have shorted.
  • The lightning shorted the TV.
  • Alas, Sanchez couldn’t hold his swing on a 3-0 changeup, and his meek grounder to short killed the threat.
    — Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2017
  • On one Sunday, a rainstorm caused an LED light at the top of the wheel to short out and send out a spark.
    — Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 May 2021
  • Bobby Peirce grounded out to second and Irish to short to send the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the fourth.
    — Nubyjas Wilborn | [email protected], al, 3 June 2023
  • The army of traders also bought up other stocks the hedge fund had shorted.
    — Steve Mollman, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2023
  • The fault shunts extra current to some parts of the circuit, shorting it out.
    — IEEE Spectrum, 27 May 2023
  • The Easter Bunny short a limb or two thanks to a skeletal T. Rex.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2019
  • The clerk advised that he was shorted $100 by a customer.
    — Cheryl Higley, cleveland.com, 19 Feb. 2018
  • That’s not to short the north end of the island, which holds the Grosse Ile Woods Preserve and a bird sanctuary.
    — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 29 Aug. 2021
  • Water might short out the electronics, but that’s about it.
    — Corinne Iozzio, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2015
  • But to call the Z06 an American Ferrari is to short its credit.
    — Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 2 Oct. 2022
  • Godfrey suggests instead the fire could have caused the circuits in the ceiling area to short out, pop the breakers, and cut out the lights.
    — Helena Skinner, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023
  • Gillespie and his movie-star cast aren’t trying to short squeeze the topic for statuettes.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2023
  • The Rebels loaded the bases with two outs, but Eric Chacon grounded out to short to end the inning.
    — Joseph Halm, NOLA.com, 24 Apr. 2018
  • The National Hockey League has been kind in recent years to short guys.
    — Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2019
  • Steven Kwan's groundout to short scored Jack Anderson from third for a 4-3 lead.
    — Ron Richmond For The Oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, 1 May 2018
  • As a result, the starter toasted itself to a crisp and the ignition shorted out.
    — Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 21 Feb. 2023
  • The only thing worse than headphones that start shorting out is having to throw them away and buy a whole new pair.
    — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 28 Sep. 2015
  • Tyler Saladino moved to from third base to short, and catcher Manny Pina came in to play third.
    — Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 July 2019
  • When the reunion begins, the bar cranks the sound system so loudly that the speaker closest to me keeps shorting out.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 June 2023
  • Sometimes a power strip will short and shut off your devices.
    — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Now, the risk of injury that would short-circuit a lucrative career as a sire seems to loom a lot larger.
    — New York Times, 12 June 2018
  • Rye, whose last race was a third in the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano, really gets shorted up for this race.
    — John Cherwa, latimes.com, 20 May 2018
  • Yet, on Friday night, just a moment, there was a jolt, strong enough perhaps to short out the sound system at the Bad Bunny concert across the street.
    — Dallas News, 9 Sep. 2022
  • If any one of the pins shows continuity, then the compressor is shorted out.
    — Brett Martin, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2017
  • The pleats on its front convincingly disguise the style as a skirt, but the back looks like a pair of trouser shorts with a back button pocket.
    — Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2023
  • The weapon delivers a surge of energy that can short out anything from cell phones to power grids.
    — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 8 July 2022
  • The bottom line: Anomalies mean caution The items above might make selling or shorting homebuilder stocks seem like a good idea.
    — John S. Tobey, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
  • Beginning May 1, the booking window for overnight lodging will be shorted to six months and reservation changes and cancellations cannot be made more than five months in advance.
    — Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'short.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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