shortcut

1 of 2

noun

short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 

 also  -ˈkət

1

: a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken

2

: a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure

a shortcut to success

3

: a key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard programmed to perform a specific function when pressed

You can open any item by clicking it or by assigning it a keyboard shortcut.

—Christopher Breen

called also hot key

shortcut

2 of 2

verb

shortcut; shortcutting

transitive verb

: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut

also : circumvent

intransitive verb

: to take or use a shortcut

Synonyms

Verb

• beat
• bypass
• circumvent
• dodge
• get around
• sidestep
• skirt

Examples of shortcut in a Sentence

Noun

Wait, I know a shortcut. Turn left here.

We took a shortcut home.

Let's take the shortcut through the woods.

I used a shortcut to calculate the total weight.

There are no shortcuts to learning another language.

Mistakes were made because too many shortcuts were taken.

Verb

are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In 2025, YouTube will introduce a new shortcut that takes creators directly to the Inspiration Tab from places like top comments and other videos. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024

Investors then tend to over-index on writing a check in the sector at any cost and tend to take shortcuts on diligence. —Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

Verb

Lastly, the large touchpad includes Smart Gesture support, which supports three-finger and four-finger shortcuts the user can customize. —Christopher Null, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2024

From Terminal 7, a sidewalk path crosses the horseshoe to link travelers to Terminal 1 — but that shortcut along parking garages isn’t easy to spot. —Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

shortcut

1 of 2 noun

short·​cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 

-ˈkət

: a shorter, quicker, or easier way

a shortcut through the woods

a shortcut to fame

shortcut

2 of 2 verb

shortcut; shortcutting

: to take or use a shortcut