Short
/ʃoːt/
Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Scrabble:8 ptsWWF:7 pts5 letters
Definition of Short
noun
verb
- To cause a short circuit in (something).
- Of an electrical circuit, to short circuit.
- To shortchange.
- To provide with a smaller than agreed or labeled amount.
"This is the third time I’ve caught them shorting us."
- To sell something, especially securities, that one does not own at the moment for delivery at a later date in hopes of profiting from a decline in the price; to sell short.
adjective
- Having a small distance from one end or edge to another, either horizontally or vertically.
- (of a person) Of comparatively small height.
- Having little duration.
"Our meeting was a short six minutes today. Every day for the past month it’s been at least twenty minutes long."
- (followed by for) Of a word or phrase, constituting an abbreviation (for another) or shortened form (of another).
"“Phone” is short for “telephone” and "asap" short for "as soon as possible"."
- (of a fielder or fielding position) that is relatively close to the batsman.
adverb
- Abruptly, curtly, briefly.
"He cut me short repeatedly in the meeting."
- Unawares.
"The recent developments at work caught them short."
- Without achieving a goal or requirement.
"His speech fell short of what was expected."
- (of the manner of bounce of a cricket ball) Relatively far from the batsman and hence bouncing higher than normal; opposite of full.
- With a negative ownership position.
"We went short most finance companies in July."
Anagrams of Short
Words You Can Make
22 words can be made from the letters in "short":
Related Word Patterns
Synonyms & Antonyms
SYNONYMS
abbreviationshort formlownarrowshallowslimbriefconciselittlepetitepint-sizedtitchylackingonshort
ANTONYMS
longbroaddeephightallwide