# abridging

/əˈbɹɪdʒɪŋ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Verb

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

## Definition

to make something shorter by removing parts of it. You do this to a book or a story so it can be finished in less time.

For teachers: to shorten a text or document by omitting parts of it; to reduce the length of something. Often used in the context of legal or literary works.

## Examples

- The author is abridging the long novel for a younger audience.
- The legal team spent weeks abridging the thousands of pages of evidence to focus on the most relevant details.
- By abridging the original manuscript, the editor managed to preserve the narrative's core themes while significantly reducing the physical length of the publication.

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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.