shortcut
1 of 2noun
short·cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət 
also -ˈkət
1
: a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken
2
: a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure
a shortcut to success
3
: a key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard programmed to perform a specific function when pressed
You can open any item by clicking it or by assigning it a keyboard shortcut.
Christopher Breen
Christopher Breencalled also hot key
shortcut
2 of 2verb
shortcut; shortcutting
transitive verb
: to shorten (a route, a procedure, etc.) by use of a shortcut
also : circumvent
intransitive verb
: to take or use a shortcut
Synonyms
Verb
- beat
- bypass
- circumvent
- dodge
- get around
- sidestep
- skirt
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Wait, I know a shortcut. Turn left here. We took a shortcut home. Let's take the shortcut through the woods. I used a shortcut to calculate the total weight. There are no shortcuts to learning another language. Mistakes were made because too many shortcuts were taken. Verb are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements? See More
Recent Examples on the Web Shane Barker, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 The left turn onto a dirt road that is supposedly a shortcut in reality leads the wrong way into the middle of nowhere on a quarter tank of gas. Meaghen Brown, Outside Online, 12 July 2021 The first complication shows how much of your car’s battery is available, the second indicates its autonomy (battery percentage and gas levels) and the third is a shortcut to the Wear OS My Porsche app. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2022 Expansion is a long and complex process, and franchising is not a shortcut to growth. Pete First, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Your industry association is a shortcut to consistent, vetted training. Giles Sutton, Forbes, 19 July 2022 Carbon-fiber racing shoes are not a shortcut to a faster time, however. Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 8 July 2022 Others in the crypto market decided there might be a shortcut to issuing a stablecoin without the expense and hassle of maintaining a one-to-one ratio of ordinary assets in reserve. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022 Coconut oil is a shortcut to moisture, while apple cider vinegar is great for deep cleansing. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Apr. 2022 Rotem Gantz, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 The same menu has the system settings shortcut (the icon to the lower left on the panel). David Nield, Wired, 15 Nov. 2021 Oftentimes, shoppers shortcut the simple pieces since they are offered in many places, but quality basics go a long way and can save you a few shopping trips and most importantly, save you money in the long run. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 23 Nov. 2021 Public health officials believe vaccination progress in Minnesota shortcut this spring's pandemic wave — despite a more infectious B.1.1.7 variant causing three-fourths of the state's new cases. Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 25 May 2021 The way prosthetics work now, people can shortcut around a lack of touch by seeing whether stuff is being gripped by the robotic fingers, but eyeballing is less helpful when the object is slippery, moving, or just out of sight. Max G. Levy, Wired, 20 May 2021 From time to time, scammers — some savvy, others bumbling amateurs — try to shortcut the path to riches. Tim Evans, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Nov. 2020 The experimental drugs shortcut that process by giving concentrated versions of specific ones that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests. Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2020 The experimental drugs shortcut that process by giving concentrated versions of specific ones that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests. Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2020 See More
Noun
Anchoring bias is a mental shortcut that humans use to make decisions. Shane Barker, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 The left turn onto a dirt road that is supposedly a shortcut in reality leads the wrong way into the middle of nowhere on a quarter tank of gas. Meaghen Brown, Outside Online, 12 July 2021 The first complication shows how much of your car’s battery is available, the second indicates its autonomy (battery percentage and gas levels) and the third is a shortcut to the Wear OS My Porsche app. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2022 Expansion is a long and complex process, and franchising is not a shortcut to growth. Pete First, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Your industry association is a shortcut to consistent, vetted training. Giles Sutton, Forbes, 19 July 2022 Carbon-fiber racing shoes are not a shortcut to a faster time, however. Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 8 July 2022 Others in the crypto market decided there might be a shortcut to issuing a stablecoin without the expense and hassle of maintaining a one-to-one ratio of ordinary assets in reserve. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022 Coconut oil is a shortcut to moisture, while apple cider vinegar is great for deep cleansing. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Apr. 2022 Verb
The bottom line is that SPACs can be a great vehicle to shortcut bureaucracy. Rotem Gantz, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 The same menu has the system settings shortcut (the icon to the lower left on the panel). David Nield, Wired, 15 Nov. 2021 Oftentimes, shoppers shortcut the simple pieces since they are offered in many places, but quality basics go a long way and can save you a few shopping trips and most importantly, save you money in the long run. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 23 Nov. 2021 Public health officials believe vaccination progress in Minnesota shortcut this spring's pandemic wave — despite a more infectious B.1.1.7 variant causing three-fourths of the state's new cases. Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 25 May 2021 The way prosthetics work now, people can shortcut around a lack of touch by seeing whether stuff is being gripped by the robotic fingers, but eyeballing is less helpful when the object is slippery, moving, or just out of sight. Max G. Levy, Wired, 20 May 2021 From time to time, scammers — some savvy, others bumbling amateurs — try to shortcut the path to riches. Tim Evans, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Nov. 2020 The experimental drugs shortcut that process by giving concentrated versions of specific ones that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests. Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2020 The experimental drugs shortcut that process by giving concentrated versions of specific ones that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests. Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1915, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
shortcut
noun
short·cut ˈshȯrt-ˌkət
: a shorter, quicker, or easier way
shortcutting
verb
as in circumventing
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements? Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- circumventing
- avoiding
- bypassing
- ignoring
- evading
- sidestepping
- dodging
- skirting
- escaping
- disobeying
- preventing
- disregarding
- beating
- eschewing
- getting around
- eluding
- shunning
- ducking
- shaking
- outflanking
- flouting
- shirking
- diverting
- end-running
- obviating
- deflecting
- averting
- parrying
- warding (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obeying
- following
- observing
- keeping
- complying (with)
- pursuing
- seeking
- courting
- embracing
- accepting
- contracting
- incurring
- catching
- assenting (to)
- welcoming
- acceding (to)
- acquiescing (to)
- entheogens
- enthral
- enthraldoms
- enthrall
- enthralled
- enthralling
- enthrallment
- enthrallments
- John o' Groat's
- john o' groat's house
- John of Austria
- John of Gaunt
- John of Lancaster
- John of Salisbury
- John of the Cross
- John Paul
- john q.
- john q. citizen
- John Q. Public
- John Stiles
- John towhit
- John Trot
- John's-wort
- john's-worts
- john-a-noakes