# shortcut

/ˈʃɔɹtˌkət/ (US) · /ʃˈɔːtkʌt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shortcut
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a quicker route

noun · CEFR B1

a path or road that is shorter and faster than the usual way.

For teachers: a route between two points that is more direct or takes less time than the standard or commonly used path.

- We took a shortcut through the park to get to the station on time.
- By taking a narrow shortcut through the residential district, the driver managed to avoid the gridlock on the main motorway.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'take' or 'find'.

### 2. a faster method

noun · CEFR B2

a way of doing something that is quicker because it skips some steps.

For teachers: a method of accomplishing a task that bypasses standard procedures to save time or effort.

- There are no shortcuts to learning a language; you have to practice every day.
- The chef warned that taking shortcuts with the sauce would result in a lack of depth in the final flavour profile.

Teaching tip: Often used in the negative ('there are no shortcuts') to emphasize that hard work is necessary.

### 3. computing

noun · CEFR B1

an icon on a computer screen that opens a program or file quickly.

For teachers: a symbolic link or pointer in a graphical user interface that provides immediate access to a file, folder, or application.

- I created a shortcut on my desktop so I could open the report with one click.
- The technician suggested placing a shortcut in the startup folder to ensure the monitoring software launched automatically upon login.

### 4. keyboard shortcut

noun · CEFR B2

a combination of keys you press to make a computer do something.

For teachers: a set of one or more keys that invoke a software or operating system command when pressed together.

- Using the keyboard shortcut for 'copy' is much faster than using the mouse.
- Power users often memorise dozens of shortcuts to navigate the complex interface without ever touching the trackpad.

### 5. to take a shorter way

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to use a shorter path or a quicker method.

For teachers: to bypass standard routes or procedures in order to reach a destination or conclusion more rapidly.

- If we shortcut through the alley, we can beat the bus to the next stop.
- The developers tried to shortcut the testing phase, but the resulting bugs cost them more time in the long run.

Usage: This verb is often used transitively when referring to processes.

## Examples

- I took a shortcut through the park to save time.
- You can create a desktop shortcut so you don't have to search through folders for the document every morning.
- While the technical shortcut allowed the developers to meet the deadline, it introduced several security vulnerabilities that required a complete rewrite of the code later that year.

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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.