How to Use shorten in a Sentence

shorten

verb
  • He had to shorten the speech.
  • Zinc may help shorten a cold by a day or two.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
  • But a prenup can shorten that process.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Such foods may even shorten life.
    — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Both of their styles will chew the clock and shorten this game.
    — Doug Ziefel, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2022
  • The air cools, the days shorten, and there’s room for new habits.
    — Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Cut back to shorten any young stems that remain.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The goal is not to avoid the valley but to shorten the stay.
    — William Jones, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • On a warm day, that window shortens to one hour.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The name was soon shortened to flag football.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
  • So just trying to shorten my swing up and put a good swing on it.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • His term will be shortened five months by the election date change.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Her sentenced has since been shortened to nine years.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The new, shorter course (who comes in and shortens a course?
    — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
  • High heat breaks down coatings faster and shortens the life of the pan.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
  • This gives you more room for games and will shorten game loading times.
    — Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022
  • Just trying to shorten the game.
    — Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
  • New England has to keep the ball and shorten the game.
    — Mike Sando, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • These nails were shaped and shortened to just the right length for a clean, glossy polish.
    — Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Some Asian countries have shortened their work and school weeks.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Some Asian countries have shortened their work and school weeks.
    — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The strength of the glue or even your skin type, as oily skin can break down the glue and shorten the hold.
    — Jazmine Boutte, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2024
  • There's a lot of slang, and Australians shorten a lot of words.
    — Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Thermal shock is hard on metal and could warp pans and shorten their lives.
    — Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 30 Oct. 2020
  • The meetings have shortened, too.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Washing them too far in advance can shorten their shelf life.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
  • But workers said that alone will not shorten already long wait times.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • When they are filled with fluid, the muscles squeeze and shorten.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The place has more space and better schools, and will shorten their commutes.
    — Marni Jameson, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Sep. 2020
  • Dropping three at once and then one episode per week shortens that by a couple weeks.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shorten.' 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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