Word
shortest
Phoneticsshort·est
US/ˈʃɔɹtɪst/
UK/ʃˈɔːtəst/
Definition
adj. measuring the smallest distance from one end to the other compared to all others. You use this to describe the most direct path or the person with the least height in a group.
adj. the superlative form of 'short', indicating the minimum extent in space, time, or length within a specific set.
Examples
“This is the shortest path to the park.”
“The manager chose the shortest candidate for the role because the workspace had very low ceilings.”
“The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, after which the duration of daylight begins its gradual increase toward the summer peak.”
Examples
simple
“This is the shortest path to the park.”
contextual
“The manager chose the shortest candidate for the role because the workspace had very low ceilings.”
complex
“The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, after which the duration of daylight begins its gradual increase toward the summer peak.”
Usage
Superlative form of the adjective 'short'; typically preceded by the definite article 'the'.
Pitfall
the most shortest way
the shortest way
Short is a one-syllable adjective, so it takes the '-est' suffix rather than the 'most' modifier.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/shortest