abbreviate

Verb

UK: /əˈbriviˌeɪt/

US: /əˈbriviˌeɪt/


Definition and Examples

▶️ To make a word or phrase shorter by using only a few letters

Example: Instead of writing "United States of America," you can abbreviate it as "USA."

  • Explanation: In this sentence, "abbreviate" means to use the short form "USA" instead of writing the whole name.

Example: We use "Dr." to abbreviate "Doctor" when writing someone's title.

  • Explanation: Here, "abbreviate" means using "Dr." as the shorter form of "Doctor."

Detailed Look at Usage

When describing making something shorter:

☑️Example: You can abbreviate "Wednesday" to "Wed" to save space in your notes.

  • Subject: You
  • Predicate: can abbreviate "Wednesday" to "Wed" to save space in your notes
    • "can abbreviate" (verb phrase)
    • "Wednesday" (word being shortened)
    • "to 'Wed'" (short form used)
    • "to save space in your notes" (infinitive phrase explaining the reason)

☑️Example: "January" is often abbreviated as "Jan" in calendars.

  • Subject: "January"
  • Predicate: is often abbreviated as "Jan" in calendars
    • "is abbreviated" (verb phrase)
    • "as 'Jan'" (short form used)
    • "in calendars" (prepositional phrase indicating where it's used)

☑️Example: In professional documents, it is common to abbreviate titles such as "Professor" to "Prof." and "Mister" to "Mr."

  • Subject: It
  • Predicate: is common to abbreviate titles such as "Professor" to "Prof." and "Mister" to "Mr."
    • "is common" (verb phrase)
    • "to abbreviate titles such as 'Professor' to 'Prof.' and 'Mister' to 'Mr.'" (infinitive phrase indicating the action)

☑️Example: Financial reports often use abbreviations like "Inc." for "Incorporated" to save space and streamline the text.

  • Subject: Financial reports
  • Predicate: often use abbreviations like "Inc." for "Incorporated" to save space and streamline the text
    • "use" (verb)
    • "abbreviations like 'Inc.' for 'Incorporated'" (direct object with explanatory clause)
    • "to save space and streamline the text" (infinitive phrase explaining the purpose)

How to Use "Abbreviate"

When talking about shortening a word or phrase:

☑️Example: In your notes, you can abbreviate "North America" as "NA."

  • Subject: You
  • Predicate: can abbreviate "North America" as "NA"
    • "can abbreviate" (verb phrase)
    • "North America" (phrase being shortened)
    • "as 'NA'" (short form used)

☑️Example: The word "example" can be abbreviated to "ex."

  • Subject: The word "example"
  • Predicate: can be abbreviated to "ex"
    • "can be abbreviated" (verb phrase)
    • "to 'ex'" (short form used)

More Examples

☑️Example: When texting, people often abbreviate "laugh out loud" to "LOL."

  • Subject: People
  • Predicate: often abbreviate "laugh out loud" to "LOL"
    • "often abbreviate" (verb phrase)
    • "laugh out loud" (phrase being shortened)
    • "to 'LOL'" (short form used)

☑️Example: In math, we abbreviate "multiplication" as "×."

  • Subject: We
  • Predicate: abbreviate "multiplication" as "×"
    • "abbreviate" (verb)
    • "multiplication" (word being shortened)
    • "as '×'" (short form used)

☑️Example: Legal documents frequently abbreviate "Limited Liability Company" to "LLC" to make the text more concise.

  • Subject: Legal documents
  • Predicate: frequently abbreviate "Limited Liability Company" to "LLC" to make the text more concise
    • "frequently abbreviate" (verb phrase)
    • "Limited Liability Company" (phrase being shortened)
    • "to 'LLC'" (abbreviated form)
    • "to make the text more concise" (infinitive phrase explaining purpose)

☑️Example: Scientific papers often use abbreviations like "DNA" for "deoxyribonucleic acid" to simplify complex terms.

  • Subject: Scientific papers
  • Predicate: often use abbreviations like "DNA" for "deoxyribonucleic acid" to simplify complex terms
    • "use" (verb)
    • "abbreviations like 'DNA' for 'deoxyribonucleic acid'" (direct object with explanatory clause)
    • "to simplify complex terms" (infinitive phrase explaining the purpose)

☑️Example: "United Nations" is abbreviated as "UN."

  • Explanation: "United Nations" is shortened to "UN."

☑️Example: "Professor" can be abbreviated to "Prof."

  • Explanation: "Professor" is shortened to "Prof."


Synonyms & Similar Words

Shorten

Condense

Reduce

Simplify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Extend Lengthen Expand