English dictionary
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English verb: shorten | |||
| 1. | shorten (change) make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration | ||
| Samples | He shortened his trip due to illness. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | bring down, cut, cut back, cut down, reduce, trim, trim back, trim down | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | clip, curtail, cut short, cut short, foreshorten, syncopate, truncate | ||
| Cause | shorten | ||
| Antonyms | lengthen | ||
| 2. | shorten (change) reduce in scope while retaining essential elements | ||
| Samples | The manuscript must be shortened. | ||
| Synonyms | abbreviate, abridge, contract, cut, foreshorten, reduce | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | decrease, lessen, minify | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | bowdlerise, bowdlerize, castrate, concentrate, condense, digest, expurgate, shorten | ||
| Verb group | cut, edit, edit out | ||
| Antonyms | elaborate, expatiate, expound, lucubrate, dilate, exposit, flesh out, enlarge, expand | ||
| 3. | shorten (change) make short or shorter | ||
| Samples | Shorten the skirt. Shorten the rope by a few inches. | ||
| Examples | They shorten their hair | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | cut | ||
| 4. | shorten (change) become short or shorter | ||
| Samples | In winter, the days shorten. | ||
| Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | decrease, diminish, fall, lessen | ||
| Antonyms | lengthen | ||
| 5. | shorten (change) edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate | ||
| Samples | Bowdlerize a novel. | ||
| Examples | They won't shorten the story | ||
| Synonyms | bowdlerise, bowdlerize, castrate, expurgate | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | abbreviate, abridge, contract, cut, foreshorten, reduce, shorten | ||
Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2025 onlineordbog.dk