Adjective Adverb Noun Verb A2–B1 /ʃɔːt/

Short — Definition, Examples & Usage

Small in length or height; brief in time; lacking something — one of the most versatile words in English.

Quick Definition

Short (adjective) — small in length or height; not tall; brief in duration; not having enough of something: a short walk, a short meeting, short of cash.

Short (adverb) — abruptly; before the expected point: She stopped short when she heard the noise.

Short (noun) — a short film; an electrical short-circuit: a late-night programme of shorts; a short in the wiring.

Short (verb) — to cause a short-circuit in an electrical device: The damp had shorted the motor.

What Does Short Mean?

Short is one of the most frequently used words in English and belongs to the core A2 vocabulary that every learner should master early. Its primary meaning as an adjective covers two dimensions: physical size (length or height) and duration (time). A short person stands below average height; a short meeting ends more quickly than expected.

Beyond these core meanings, short extends to describe insufficiency — being short of something means not having enough of it. This gives rise to a wide family of collocations and compound words: short-staffed (not enough workers), short supply (not enough available), fall short (fail to reach a target).

As an adverb, short typically describes an abrupt stop or interruption: to stop short, to cut short, to sell short. The noun sense is mainly technical or cinematic, while the verb sense (to short an electrical circuit) is informal and primarily British.

Etymology: From Old English sceort (not long, brief), related to Old High German scurz, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "cut off". The same root gives English shirt, skirt (both originally cut pieces of cloth), and shear. The electrical sense "short-circuit" dates from the early 20th century.

Example Sentences by CEFR Level

SentenceLevel & Usage note
The lesson was very short — only twenty minutes. A2 — adjective, duration
She gave a short but clear explanation of the grammar rule. B1 — adjective, describing a communication; keyword example
We are running short of time, so let's move on to the next point. B1 — 'running short of' = not having enough
The manager cut the presentation short because the client had to leave early. B2 — phrasal verb 'cut short' = end before the intended time
The government's short-sighted approach to housing policy has failed to address the underlying shortage. C1 — compound adjective; formal register; noun 'shortage' as related form

Collocations

CollocationExample
short noticeThey cancelled the meeting at very short notice.
short break / short holidayWe took a short break in Edinburgh.
short storyShe published her first short story last year.
short of breathHe was short of breath after climbing the stairs.
fall short (of)The fundraising campaign fell short of its target.
cut shortThe concert was cut short by heavy rain.
in short supplyFresh water is in short supply in the region.
short-termWe need a short-term solution while we plan for the future.
short-sightedIt is short-sighted to ignore environmental costs.
in shortIn short, the project was a success.

Usage Notes

Key Points for ESL Learners

  • Short vs. low: Use short for people and objects measured from base to top. Use low for structures measured from the ground or for a position that is not high: a short person, a low wall, a low shelf.
  • Short vs. brief: Both describe little duration, but brief is more formal and restricted to time. Short works for both time and length. Say a brief visit or a short visit; say only a short stick (not "a brief stick").
  • Shortly ≠ in a short way: The adverb shortly means "soon" or, more formally, "in a few words". It does NOT mean "briefly" in modern British English. Say Please explain briefly, not "Please explain shortly".
  • Short of + noun: This construction means "lacking" or "not reaching": short of funds, short of a majority, nothing short of a miracle.
  • Stop short vs. stop short of: Stop short = stop abruptly. Stop short of = avoid doing something extreme: She stopped short of accusing him directly.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

He is a low person — only 1.60 m tall.

He is a short person — only 1.60 m tall. (Use short, not low, to describe height.)

The film was very shortly — only ten minutes.

The film was very short — only ten minutes. (Short is the adjective; shortly means "soon".)

We are lacking of money.

We are short of money. (Use the fixed collocation short of for this meaning.)

They gave us a shortly notice about the change.

They gave us short notice about the change. (Short notice is a fixed noun phrase.)

Related Words

shortly (adv.) shorten (v.) shortage (n.) shortfall (n.) shortcut (n.) short-sighted (adj.) short-lived (adj.) short-tempered (adj.) short-circuit (n./v.) shortlist (n./v.)

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms (adjective — size/duration):

brief concise compact stubby squat fleeting limited

Antonyms:

long tall lengthy extended prolonged ample

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “short”

What does short mean in English?
Short has several meanings depending on its part of speech. As an adjective it means small in length or height ('a short pencil') or brief in time ('a short meeting'). It can also mean lacking something ('short of money'). As an adverb it means abruptly or before the expected end ('She stopped short'). As a noun, a short is a short film or a short-circuit. As a verb, to short means to cause a short-circuit.
What is the difference between short and brief?
Both short and brief describe something of little length or duration, but brief is more formal and typically refers to time ('a brief pause', 'a brief statement'). Short can describe both length and time and is more versatile in everyday speech. You would say 'a short stick' but not 'a brief stick'. Brief often implies that something is shorter than expected or desired, while short is more neutral.
What are the most common collocations with short?
Common collocations include: short break, short story, short notice, shortcut, short supply, short term, fall short, cut short, short of breath, and run short. Phrasal verbs include: short-circuit, fall short of, and come up short. Compound adjectives include: short-sighted, short-lived, short-tempered, and short-handed.
What does 'short of' mean?
'Short of' has two common meanings. First, it means lacking a sufficient amount of something: 'We are short of time.' Second, it means except for or without going as far as: 'Short of quitting altogether, I'm not sure what to do.' This second meaning is more formal and common in written English.
What is the comparative and superlative of short?
The comparative form is shorter and the superlative is shortest. Because short is a one-syllable adjective, it takes the -er and -est endings rather than using more/most. Examples: 'This route is shorter than the other one.' 'It was the shortest speech I have ever heard.'
What does 'in short' mean?
'In short' is a discourse marker meaning 'to summarise' or 'to put it briefly'. It is used to introduce a concise conclusion after a longer explanation: 'The project ran over budget, missed its deadline, and received poor reviews — in short, it was a disaster.' It is similar to 'in summary', 'to sum up', and 'in brief'.
What is the adverb form of short?
Short itself is used as an adverb in expressions such as 'stop short', 'fall short', and 'cut short'. The adverb shortly (meaning soon, or briefly) is a related but distinct form: 'She will arrive shortly.' Note that shortly does NOT mean 'in a short manner' in modern British English — use 'briefly' for that meaning instead.
What does short-sighted mean?
Short-sighted has both a literal and figurative meaning. Literally, it describes a person who cannot see things clearly at a distance — the medical term is myopia. Figuratively, it means lacking foresight or failing to consider future consequences: 'It would be short-sighted to cut the training budget.' The American English equivalent for the literal meaning is near-sighted.
What is the origin of the word short?
Short comes from Old English 'sceort' (not long, not tall, brief), which is related to Old High German 'scurz' and is thought to derive from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'cut off'. The same root gives us shirt, skirt, and shear. The verb sense 'to short-circuit' dates from the early 20th century with the spread of electrical technology.
How can I practise using short in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise short in context. Flash Cards are useful for memorising its collocations such as 'fall short', 'short notice', and 'short of breath'. Writing a short paragraph (three to five sentences) using at least three different meanings or collocations of short is an excellent production exercise for B1 and above learners.