shortly

adverb

short·​ly ˈshȯrt-lē How to pronounce shortly (audio)
Synonyms of shortlynext
1
a
: in a few words : briefly
b
: in an abrupt manner
2
a
: in a short time
we will be there shortly
b
: at a short interval
shortly after sunset

Synonyms of shortly

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of shortly in a Sentence

He left shortly after you did. “I can't help you right now,” he said shortly.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The list of officers barred from testifying ballooned from just 66 in March 2023 to 290 in October 2024, shortly before then-Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx left office. — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The pair’s attendance at Smith-Schuster and Kruk’s ceremony shortly came after their own at Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 3. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was pulled out of the lineup shortly before the game started because of right arm irritation, with Eliezer Alfonzo taking over behind the plate. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 According to witnesses, shortly before the attack, speakers at the rally said ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility. — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortly

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shortly was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing shortly

Rhymes for shortly

See All Rhymes for shortly

Browse Nearby Words

short loin
shortly
shortly after
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shortly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortly. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

shortly

adverb
short·​ly ˈshȯrt-lē How to pronounce shortly (audio)
1
: in a few words : briefly
2
: in or within a short time : soon
will arrive shortly
shortly after sunset

More from Merriam-Webster on shortly

Nglish: Translation of shortly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All