abbreviate

[ uh-bree-vee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing.

1. to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.
2. to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer:

   to abbreviate a speech.

verb (used without object)

, ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing.

1. to use abbreviations.

abbreviate

/ əˈbriːvɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to shorten (a word or phrase) by contraction or omission of some letters or words
2. to shorten (a speech or piece of writing) by omitting sections, paraphrasing, etc
3. to cut short

Derived Forms

• abˈbreviˌator, noun

Other Words From

• ab·brevi·ator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbreviate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbreviātus shortened (past participle of abbreviāre ), equivalent to Latin ad- ad- + breviātus ( brevi(s) “short“ + -ātus -ate ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abbreviate¹

C15: from the past participle of Late Latin abbreviāre, from Latin brevis brief

Synonym Study

See shorten.

Example Sentences

The strands consist of almost endless rows of four small molecules that we abbreviate to A, C, G and T.

From Science Daily

Republicans emphasized the impact it would have to schools’ calendars, the work it would put on counties to abbreviate their own and potential changes to voters’ habits as reasons to not move the primary at all, at this point.

From Seattle Times

Some officials have been talking about nonfunctional turf so much that they abbreviate it with the acronym “NFT.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We can often abbreviate and accelerate what we can do in terms of training for Ukrainian army soldiers,” he told reporters Wednesday.

From Seattle Times

Already, public health agencies, researchers and nonprofit organizations around the world have taken it upon themselves to abbreviate or shorten the controversial name.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abort
• truncate