# abridge

/əˈbɹɪdʒ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Verb

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

## Definition

to make a book or a piece of writing shorter by removing some parts. You do this to make it easier for people to read quickly.

For teachers: to shorten a text by omitting parts while retaining the original meaning and structure. Often used in the context of legal documents or literary works.

## Examples

- The publisher decided to abridge the novel for a younger audience.
- The legal team spent several weeks abridging the lengthy contract to highlight the most important clauses for the client.
- While some critics argue that abridging a classic novel strips it of its historical context, others maintain that it allows modern readers to grasp the core narrative without being overwhelmed by archaic prose.

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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.