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shortly JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ʃɔːɹtli/ · short·ly
adverb
  1. In a short or brief time or manner; quickly. She answered the question shortly, without any hesitation.
  2. In or after a short time; soon. The train will arrive shortly, so please stand by the platform.
  3. In few words; concisely. He expressed his thoughts shortly, preferring brevity over detail.
Did you know? The temporal sense of ‘shortly’ (meaning ‘soon’) emerged in the 16th century, shifting from a purely manner‑based adverb to one that also indicates imminence.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 15, 2026