Abbreviate: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is commonly used when you need to create a shorter version of a word or phrase.

• We need to abbreviate 'et cetera' to 'etc.' in this document.
• The term 'Doctor of Philosophy' is often abbreviated to 'PhD'.

This word is more general and can be used when anything is made shorter, whether it's time, length or an activity.

• You should shorten the speech to fit within the two-minute limit.
• The seamstress will shorten the dress by two inches.

This word is used when something is made smaller or shorter in time or space, often implying a formal agreement or a natural process. It can also be used in a medical context to describe the process of muscles tightening.

• Due to financial constraints, the stages of the project were contracted.
• Muscles contract during physical exercise.

This word is used in more formal or technical contexts, especially in computing or mathematics, and it means to cut off a part of something.

• Ensure the output data is truncated to avoid overflow.
• The summary was truncated to fit into the space provided.

This word is used when you want to make a word, phrase, or text shorter by using fewer letters or symbols.

• We often abbreviate 'example' as 'ex'.
• The company name was too long, so they decided to abbreviate it.

When you want to shorten a word or phrase for simplicity or brevity, especially in writing.

• 'Doctor' is often abbreviated as 'Dr.'
• They decided to abbreviate the meeting notes for quick review.

A broad term for any condensed or simplified version of a word or phrase.

• 'Info' is a short form of 'information'.
• Many people use 'ad' as a short form for 'advertisement'.

Used when the shortened form consists of the initial letters of a series of words and is pronounced as a single word.

• 'SCUBA' is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
• 'RADAR' stands for Radio Detection and Ranging.

Used when the shortened form consists of the initial letters of a series of words and each letter is pronounced separately.

• 'FBI' is an initialism for Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• 'ATM' stands for Automated Teller Machine.