adv · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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US:/ˈʃɔɹtli/
CMU ARPABET:SH AO1 R T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a short or brief time or manner; quickly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
In or after a short time; soon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
The past perfect progressive is used for actions and situations which had continued up to a past moment or shortly before it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
In few words.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Ideas are generally expressed more shortly in verse than in prose
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: briefly, concisely
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
In an irritable ("short") manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
"Stop interrupting me, will ya?" she said shortly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abruptly, curtly
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
in the near future
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the doctor will soon be here
the book will appear shortly
she will arrive presently
we should have news before long
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: soon, presently, before long
Antonyms: none provided
6
adverb
Meaning 6
for a short time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he was at the airport shortly before she was expected to arrive
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adverb
Meaning 7
at a short distance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the hem fell shortly below her knees
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adverb
Meaning 8
in a concise manner; in a few words
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the history is summed up concisely in this book
she replied briefly
briefly, we have a problem
to put it shortly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: concisely, briefly, in brief, in short
Antonyms: none provided
9
adverb
Meaning 9
in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he told me curtly to get on with it
he talked short with everyone
he said shortly that he didn't like it
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: curtly, short
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English schortly, schortliche, from Old English sċortlīċe (“shortly; before long; soon”), equivalent to short + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
52 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
кратко
(kratko)
— in a short or brief time or manner
Bulgarian:
сбито
(sbito)
— in a short or brief time or manner
Catalan:
aviat
— in a short or brief time or manner
Catalan:
en breu
— in a short or brief time or manner
Czech:
zanedlouho
— in a short or brief time or manner
Finnish:
pikaisesti
— in a short or brief time or manner
Finnish:
nopeasti
— in a short or brief time or manner
French:
rapidement
— in a short or brief time or manner
Italian:
subito
— in a short or brief time or manner
Korean:
금방
(geumbang)
— in a short or brief time or manner
Māori:
ākuara
— in a short or brief time or manner
Māori:
potopoto
— in a short or brief time or manner
Māori:
ā kō kō ake nei
— in a short or brief time or manner
Polish:
wkrótce
— in a short or brief time or manner
Portuguese:
rapidamente
— in a short or brief time or manner
Russian:
кра́тко
(krátko)
— in a short or brief time or manner
Russian:
недо́лго
(nedólgo)
— in a short or brief time or manner
Scottish Gaelic:
gu grad
— in a short or brief time or manner
Spanish:
pronto
— in a short or brief time or manner
Spanish:
en breve
— in a short or brief time or manner
Bulgarian:
скоро
(skoro)
— in or after a short time
Esperanto:
baldaŭ
— in or after a short time
Finnish:
pian
— in or after a short time
Finnish:
kohta
— in or after a short time
German:
bald
— in or after a short time
Italian:
tra poco
— in or after a short time
Kyrgyz:
жакында
(jakında)
— in or after a short time
Latin:
brevī
— in or after a short time
Portuguese:
brevemente
— in or after a short time
Portuguese:
em breve
— in or after a short time
Russian:
ско́ро
(skóro)
— in or after a short time
Russian:
вско́ре
(vskóre)
— in or after a short time
Swedish:
inom kort
— in or after a short time
Swedish:
snart
— in or after a short time
Welsh:
gyda hyn
— in or after a short time
Bulgarian:
накратко
(nakratko)
— in few words; briefly
Catalan:
breument
— in few words; briefly
Finnish:
lyhyesti
— in few words; briefly
French:
brièvement
— in few words; briefly
Italian:
in breve
— in few words; briefly
Portuguese:
brevemente
— in few words; briefly
Portuguese:
concisamente
— in few words; briefly
Russian:
ко́ротко
(kórotko)
— in few words; briefly
Russian:
кра́тко
(krátko)
— in few words; briefly
Russian:
вкра́тце
(vkrátce)
— in few words; briefly
Russian:
сжа́то
(sžáto)
— in few words; briefly
Swedish:
kort
— in few words; briefly
Swedish:
fåordigt
— in few words; briefly
Catalan:
bruscament
— in an irritable manner
Finnish:
töykeästi
— in an irritable manner
Russian:
отры́висто
(otrývisto)
— in an irritable manner
