Shortly Definition & Meaning

shortly
adverb
  1. for a short time; "he was at the airport shortly before she was expected to arrive"
  2. in the near future; "the doctor will soon be here"; "the book will appear shortly"; "she will arrive presently"; "we should have news before long"
  3. in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner; "he told me curtly to get on with it"; "he talked short with everyone"; "he said shortly that he didn't like it"
  4. in a concise manner; in a few words; "the history is summed up concisely in this book"; "she replied briefly"; "briefly, we have a problem"; "to put it shortly"
  5. at a short distance; "the hem fell shortly below her knees"

Synonyms for shortly

briefly adv

for a short time; "she visited him briefly"; "was briefly associated with IBM" in a concise manner; in a few words

♫ Rhymes
concisely adv

in a concise manner; in a few words; "the history is summed up concisely in this book"; "she replied briefly

♫ Rhymes
curtly adv

in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner; "he told me curtly to get on with it"; "he talked short with everyone

♫ Rhymes
presently adv

in the near future; "the doctor will soon be here"; "the book will appear shortly"; "she will arrive presently

♫ Rhymes
short adv

quickly and without warning; "he stopped suddenly" without possessing something at the time it is contractually sold

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
soon adv

in the near future; "the doctor will soon be here"; "the book will appear shortly"; "she will arrive presently

♫ Rhymes

"Shortly" in song lyrics

See how shortly is used in real songs:

  • "And live shortly"
    Flipmode Squad — To My People
  • "Dragged from behind, I was about to get cut shortly"
    Muph & Plutonic f/ Minas — Scars & Stains
  • "The king will crown me shortly"
    Penhead — Penicillin

Words that rhyme with shortly

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Usage tips for "shortly"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "shortly" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for shortly to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with shortly ↔ Synonyms for shortly 🔬 Words containing shortly

Frequently asked questions

What does shortly mean?
for a short time; "he was at the airport shortly before she was expected to arrive" in the near future; "the doctor will soon be here"; "the book will appear shortly"; "she will arrive presently"; "we should have news before long" in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner; "he told me curtly to get on with it"; "he talked short with everyone"; "he said shortly that he didn't like it" in a concise manner; in a few words; "the history is summed up concisely in this book"; "she replied briefly
What part of speech is shortly?
Shortly is an adverb.
How many definitions does shortly have?
Shortly has 5 definitions across 1 part of speech (adverb).

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