WordGarden.ioshortness
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʃˈɔːtnəs/
US
- /ˈʃɔrtnəs/
Meanings
Noun
the quality of being short in length or height
the quality of lasting only a short time
brevity or curt abruptness in speech or wording
Beyond the definition
"Shortness" is not only about physical length. It often describes something that does not last long, like the shortness of a winter day or the shortness of a visit. A very common use is medical: "shortness of breath" means a feeling that breathing is hard or not deep enough. It can also describe a person's mood or way of speaking. A "shortness of temper" means someone gets angry quickly.
The word often suggests that something feels less than needed or expected. A person may show a "shortness of manner" when they speak in a brief, cold, or slightly rude way. So the word can move between size, time, health, and behavior.
"Shortness" describes the state or quality of being short, but its meaning goes beyond physical size. At its core, it points to a limited amount of something, such as length, time, breath, or patience.
In physical use, it refers to something having little length or height. "The shortness of the rope made it difficult to tie a secure knot." It is also often used for time. "The shortness of the visit made the reunion feel unfinished." In this sense, the word highlights that something ends sooner than expected or wanted.
Beyond physical and time-related uses, "shortness" can describe behavior. A "shortness of temper" means a person becomes angry easily, while a "shortness of manner" suggests a brief, sharp, or unfriendly way of speaking. The word is also very common in medicine: "shortness of breath" means difficulty breathing or feeling unable to get enough air.
Whether you are describing a small measure, a brief moment, a sharp tone, or a breathing problem, "shortness" usually points to some kind of limit. It suggests that something is cut off, reduced, or not as full as it should be.
Examples
- 1
Medical symptom
She went to the doctor because of shortness of breath.
- Phraseshortness of breath
difficulty breathing normally
- 2
Meeting length
The shortness of the meeting meant we had no time for questions.
- 3
Limited time
Given the shortness of time, let's focus on the main problem first.
- Phrasethe shortness of time
the fact that there is not much time
- 4
Reply tone
He later apologized for the shortness of his reply.
- Usage
the shortness of a reply can mean it was very brief and may sound unfriendly
See also
Similar
- brevity
- briefness
Shades of meaning
- conciseness
- curtness
- stubbiness
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- shortness of time
- shortness of stature
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- shortnessnoun