short

The word “short” means not long in length, distance, or duration. In plain terms, not long, not tall, not enough, or (in finance/electronics) a specific technical action.

“Short” is pronounced shawt (/ʃɔɹt/ in IPA).

Here is “short” used in a sentence: “It was a short walk to the station.”

Words with a similar meaning to “short” include low, scrimp, shortsome, stubbed, stubby and stumpy.

The opposite of “short” — its antonyms — are long and tall.

Depending on how it is used, “short” can be an adjective and a verb.

The word “short” comes from Old English. From Old English sceort, sċort ("short"), from a Proto-Germanic root — a doublet of "shirt", "skirt", and "curt".

“Short” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

Short has more than one opposite depending on meaning. When it describes length or distance, the opposite is long. When it describes height, the opposite is tall. And when it describes duration, the opposite is long or lengthy. The right antonym depends on whether you mean size, height or time.

Short can describe length, distance, height or time, which makes it the broader word. Brief refers almost only to time or to something written or spoken — a brief meeting, a brief note. You can call a person short but not brief, while a short talk and a brief talk mean much the same.

Yes. Short applies to duration just as it does to physical size: a short film, a short holiday or a short wait all describe something that does not last long. Used this way, short simply means brief in time rather than small in length or distance.

Short refers to limited length, height or duration — a short rope, a short person, a short trip. Small refers to overall size or amount — a small box, a small crowd. Something can be short without being small, like a short but wide table, so the two are not interchangeable.