adj
Uncommon
curt
kurt
Curt (adj) means speaking briefly to the point of seeming rude; short and blunt. Example: “Her curt reply made it clear she didn't want to discuss it.”
adj
1
Speaking briefly to the point of seeming rude; short and blunt.
"Her curt reply made it clear she didn't want to discuss it."
"The manager was curt with customers when he was busy."
How to use curt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAbrupt and to-the-point in a way that comes across as unfriendly.
Common pairings
a curt reply
curt tone
curt nod
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- curts
- Past tense
- curted
- Comparative
- curter
- Superlative
- curtest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ reply made it clear she didn't want to discuss it.
Etymology
From Latin curtus, "shortened" — the same root gives us "curtail" and, through French, "short" as a doublet.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for curt
See all rhymes for curt →Frequently asked questions
What does “curt” mean?
The word “curt” means speaking briefly to the point of seeming rude; short and blunt. In plain terms, abrupt and to-the-point in a way that comes across as unfriendly.
How do you pronounce “curt”?
“Curt” is pronounced kurt (/kɝt/ in IPA).
How do you use “curt” in a sentence?
Here is “curt” used in a sentence: “Her curt reply made it clear she didn't want to discuss it.”
What part of speech is “curt”?
“Curt” is an adjective.
Where does the word “curt” come from?
The word “curt” comes from Latin. From Latin curtus, "shortened" — the same root gives us "curtail" and, through French, "short" as a doublet.
Is “curt” a common word?
“Curt” is an uncommon word in modern English.
