short time

noun

British
: a work schedule in which an employee works fewer hours than usual
The company hasn't laid anyone off, but a number of employees have been put on short time.

Examples of short time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But markets are showing some signs of fatigue, after absorbing the flood of debt in such a short time, S&P Global warned last month, pointing out that hyperscalers are paying a higher premium compared with yields on risk-free bonds. Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 After leaving the cell, officers returned a short time later to find Hoyos-Munoz unconscious and not breathing, the spokesman said. Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 The vehicle hit several barriers and flipped over, the man fled on foot, and officers arrested him a short time later without further incident, according to the news release. Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026 After the massive sales surge in such a short time, the question is how long the squishy boom can continue. Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short time

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20time. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!