short of

preposition

: other than
especially : of a lesser degree than
had few options short of replacing the motor

Examples of short of 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 system is thousands of controllers short of full staffing. — Joel Rose, NPR, 1 July 2026 But Spiro often stops just short of fully allowing her writing to match the fervor in her voice. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026 There was a real sense of sacrifice and excitement, only for the team to fall far short of expectations. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 30 June 2026 The final score was almost padded three minutes later as Rahimi’s header on the break clanged down off the crossbar, but stopped just short of crossing the goal line. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for short of

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short of was in 1560

Rhymes for short of

See All Rhymes for short of

Browse Nearby Words

short octave
short of
short of breath
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20of. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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