adverb

• 1In a short time; soon.

  ‘the new database will shortly be available for consultation’

  More example sentences

  • ‘the flight was hijacked shortly after takeoff’
  • ‘Details of these will be made available shortly before the summer launch.’
  • ‘Again and again we saw those pictures of the television presenter shopping in London shortly before her death.’
  • ‘I had tried a number of times to get back into writing shortly after the funeral but I soon gave up.’
  • ‘Strong military ties between the two countries commenced shortly after.’
  • ‘Vandalism has increased and trees have been broken shortly after being planted.’
  • ‘He was arrested after being wounded during a shoot-out with police shortly after the slaying.’
  • ‘Police and paramedics were called to the scene shortly after midnight.’
  • ‘Witnesses saw the victim chatting to a group of men and asking them for cigarette papers shortly before the accident.’
  • ‘But Mr Bingham was taken off the ventilator in the recovery room shortly after the operation.’
  • ‘When it was removed by a specialist team shortly after 9.30 pm, the wall was reduced to rubble.’
  • ‘Miss Mitcham said four masked men burst through a locked door shortly before 9pm on a night in October.’
  • ‘Both Murphys had left the town hall shortly before noon, turning left off the private road into Mount Street.’
  • ‘The man got into the house in North Reddish, Stockport, shortly before 9pm on Friday.’
  • ‘Police and paramedics were called to Woollin Avenue shortly after 3pm on Sunday.’
  • ‘Police had arrived shortly before 3pm, following a prior arrangement with the rock star.’
  • ‘Mrs Kumar added that crime scene investigators were at the scene of the attack shortly after the police were called.’
  • ‘An eyewitness had seen the man playing with the two children shortly before the abduction and did not think he was a threat to them.’
  • ‘A Thames Valley Police spokesman said the girl was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the crash.’
  • ‘It had been spotted by a member of the public after it was set alight and abandoned shortly before midnight on Wednesday.’
  • ‘The court heard how drugs officers arrested two men in July last year shortly after they left the Manningham flat.’

  Synonyms

  soon, directly, presently, quite soon, in a short time, in a little while, in a short while, at any minute, at any moment, at any second, in a minute, in a moment, in a second, in less than no time, in less than no time at all, in next to no time, before long, by and by

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• 2In a few words; briefly.

  ‘they received a letter shortly outlining the proposals’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The letter shortly, but strictly stated that her previous life and hopes were over.’
  • ‘Householders in the Borris area will receive a letter shortly advising them of the offer.’

  1. 2.1Abruptly, sharply, or curtly.
     More example sentences

     • ‘‘Do you like cricket?’ ‘I do not,’ she said shortly’
     Synonyms

     curtly, sharply, abruptly, bluntly, brusquely, tersely, in an offhand manner, gruffly, ungraciously, gracelessly, surlily, snappily, testily, tartly, rudely, discourteously, uncivilly, impolitely

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