# abbrev

CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abbrev
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to shorten a word or phrase by using a few letters instead of the full name. You often see this in technical writing or when you want to save space.

For teachers: to shorten a word or phrase by omitting letters or using a symbol. Often used in technical or formal contexts to condense information.

## Examples

- The author decided to abbrev the long title.
- In the technical manual, the engineer abbrev the standard procedure to save space on the page.
- While the committee agreed to abbrev the report for the public, they insisted on maintaining the full version for internal legal review.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.