Synonyms for shortly

Most common

in brief · briefly · abruptly · momentarily

Synonyms by meaning

Adverb

Definitions

1. adv. 1

   In few words.

   Ideas are generally expressed more shortly in verse than in prose

2. adv. 2

   In an irritable ("short") manner.

   "Stop interrupting me, will ya?" she said shortly.

3. adv. 3

   In a short or brief time or manner; quickly.

Example sentences

• briefly She looked up briefly then returned to her sewing.
• abruptly The sound of heavy knocking abruptly woke Igor up.
• momentarily The goat strayed away from the flock momentarily.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

soon¹, anon²

5 letters

short¹

6 letters

curtly²

7 letters

briefly², tersely²

8 letters

directly³, abruptly³

9 letters

presently³, concisely³

11 letters

momentarily⁵

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (anon² = 2 syllables).