shortly
- 01 B1 Intermediate
in a very short time from now; soon.
occurring in or after a brief interval of time. Frequently used in formal announcements regarding arrivals or departures.
Simple“The train for London will be departing shortly from platform four.”
In context“The CEO is expected to arrive shortly, so please ensure all the briefing documents are laid out on the conference table.”
PitfallI will be there shortly after two hours. I will be there in two hours.Use 'shortly' for an unspecified brief time. If you name a specific duration like 'two hours', use 'in'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
speaking in a quick way that shows you are a bit annoyed.
in a curt, abrupt, or irritable manner. Often describes a style of speech that lacks polite elaboration.
Simple“"I'm busy right now," he said shortly before hanging up the phone.”
In context“When asked about the budget deficit, the minister replied shortly that the matter was still under internal review.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
using only a few words to explain something.
expressed in a concise or brief manner; using few words to convey a point.
Simple“To put it shortly, we simply do not have enough money for the trip.”
In context“The report concludes, quite shortly, that the previous administration's policy was a total failure.”
SynonymsAntonymsat lengthwordily
Usage shortly afterwards · shortly thereafter
“I’m worried about Prichard,” Williams, who was 31 at the time, said shortly after the fight in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.”
“Seventeen passengers and crew were injured when the Airbus lost about 91 metres (300 feet) in height shortly after departure on 4 August.”
From Middle English schortly, schortliche, from Old English sċortlīċe (“shortly; before long; soon”), equivalent to short + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.