Meaning & use
abbreviate
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To shorten a word, phrase, or name, often by omitting letters or using initials.
Grammar: Takes an object: abbreviate the title; often followed by as or to.
Patterns
- abbreviate something as something
- abbreviate something to something
- be commonly abbreviated
Please abbreviate “doctor” as “Dr.” in the form.
Students often abbreviate “because” to “bc” in notes, though teachers may dislike it.
The city name is commonly abbreviated in addresses.
verbtransitive
To make a process, event, or version shorter than the usual full form.
Grammar: Still takes an object, but the object is an activity or event: abbreviate the ceremony.
Patterns
- abbreviate the procedure
- abbreviate the season
- abbreviate something for time
The clinic decided to abbreviate the check-in process for repeat visits.
Bad weather forced the school to abbreviate the outdoor ceremony.
We abbreviated the meeting so everyone could catch the last train.
Word forms
| third person singular | abbreviates |
|---|---|
| past tense | abbreviated |
| past participle | abbreviated |
| -ing form | abbreviating |
Common combinations
- abbreviate something as
- You may abbreviate the organization’s name as WHO.
- abbreviate something to
- In texting, some people abbreviate “you” to “u.”
- commonly abbreviated
- “Approximately” is commonly abbreviated as “approx.”
- abbreviate the process
- The bank decided to abbreviate the loan process for small businesses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shorten
- Shorten is the everyday general word; abbreviate usually implies a set shorter form or initials.
- abridge
- Abridge is better for cutting a long book, speech, or film while keeping its shape; abbreviate is not usually for whole works.
- truncate
- Truncate sounds technical and means cutting off the end, not necessarily creating an accepted short form.
- contract
- Contract is formal or linguistic and stresses compression, while abbreviate is the normal choice for initials.
Opposites
Word family
- abbreviation noun
- A shortened form of a word or phrase, such as “etc.”
- abbreviated adjective
- Made shorter than the full form.
Commonly confused: abbreviate or abridge? abbreviate or abbreviation?
abbreviate vs abridge
Use abridge for condensing a long work; use abbreviate for shortening words, names, or processes.
abbreviate vs abbreviation
Abbreviation is the noun for the short form; abbreviate is the verb that creates it.
Practice
Complete the sentence: In official forms, “avenue” is often abbreviated ___ “Ave.”
Choose one answer.
The pattern is “abbreviate something as something.” “Abbreviated to Ave.” can occur in British-style use, but after “is often abbreviated” the natural connector here is “as.”
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abbreviate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.