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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

shortly en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • /ˈʃɔɹtli/ (US)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English schortly, schortliche, from Old English sċortlīċe (“shortly; before long; soon”), equivalent to short + -ly.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) In a short or brief time or manner; quickly.
    • […] his two ill-conditioned, canine favorites, which sat shivering before the smoky little fire, barking shortly and sharply now and then, by way of hinting for some slight refreshment. 1862, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley's Secret:
  2. (not-comparable) In or after a short time; soon.
    • Kaplan-Miller said she first joined the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, an interfaith organization that was founded by a Muslim and a Jewish woman in suburban New Jersey, shortly after the 2016 election. 2023 November 22, Brammhi Balarajan, “US interfaith communities draw on decades-long bonds to navigate Israel-Hamas War”, in CNN:
    • The few men left alive figured that whatever the Spanish wanted to do to them, it couldn’t be any worse than that, so they surrendered quickly and shortly afterward got their heads cut off by the Spaniards, who at that time were a rather bloodthirsty lot themselves. 2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, pages 48–49:
    • No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46:
    • The past perfect progressive is used for actions and situations which had continued up to a past moment or shortly before it.
  3. (not-comparable) In few words.
    • Ideas are generally expressed more shortly in verse than in prose
    • We shall not describe this tragical scene too fully; but we thought ourselves obliged, by that historic integrity which we profess, shortly to hint a matter which we would otherwise have been glad to have spared. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
  4. (not-comparable) In an irritable ("short") manner.
    • 'Well, I still think it was a rather off-hand way for you—for anyone—to behave,' he said shortly. Suddenly Melody felt trapped—and annoyed. And she didn't like being spoken to like a child, either. 2009, Susanne James, The Millionaire's Chosen Bride, page 147:
    • "Stop interrupting me, will ya?" she said shortly.

Synonyms

curtly · abruptly · briefly · concisely

Translations (52)

ru ско́ро (in or after a short time) · fr rapidement (in a short or brief time or manner) · pt rapidamente (in a short or brief time or manner) · de bald (in or after a short time) · mi potopoto (in a short or brief time or manner) · es pronto (in a short or brief time or manner) · bg накратко (in few words; briefly) · fi pian (in or after a short time) · fi nopeasti (in a short or brief time or manner) · mi ākuara (in a short or brief time or manner) · it subito (in a short or brief time or manner) · ru кра́тко (in a short or brief time or manner) · ru недо́лго (in a short or brief time or manner) · sv snart (in or after a short time) · pt em breve (in or after a short time) · it tra poco (in or after a short time) · gd gu grad (in a short or brief time or manner) · la brevī (in or after a short time) · pt concisamente (in few words; briefly) · cs zanedlouho (in a short or brief time or manner) · es en breve (in a short or brief time or manner) · ru отры́висто (in an irritable manner) · pt brevemente (in few words; briefly) · ru сжа́то (in few words; briefly) · ca breument (in few words; briefly) · fi töykeästi (in an irritable manner) · ru ко́ротко (in few words; briefly) · sv inom kort (in or after a short time) · fi lyhyesti (in few words; briefly) · bg кратко (in a short or brief time or manner) · ru кра́тко (in few words; briefly) · pl wkrótce (in a short or brief time or manner) · ko 금방 (in a short or brief time or manner) · bg скоро (in or after a short time) · cy gyda hyn (in or after a short time) · ru ре́зко (in an irritable manner) · fr brièvement (in few words; briefly) · fi kohta (in or after a short time) · it in breve (in few words; briefly) · mi ā kō kō ake nei (in a short or brief time or manner) · ru вско́ре (in or after a short time) · ru вкра́тце (in few words; briefly) · ca bruscament (in an irritable manner) · pt brevemente (in or after a short time) · ky жакында (in or after a short time) · sv fåordigt (in few words; briefly) · ca aviat (in a short or brief time or manner) · bg сбито (in a short or brief time or manner) · ca en breu (in a short or brief time or manner) · fi pikaisesti (in a short or brief time or manner) · sv kort (in few words; briefly) · eo baldaŭ (in or after a short time)