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Abbreviate

Synonyms

Definition

When we use the word abbreviate as a verb, it means to shorten or condense something, typically a word, phrase, or text, by using a shorter form or abbreviation. It’s like giving something a nickname or a shorter version to make it more convenient or easier to use. For example, when we write “etc.” instead of “et cetera,” we are abbreviating the phrase to save space and make it more concise. Similarly, when we use “ASAP” instead of “as soon as possible,” we are abbreviating the phrase to convey urgency or a need for prompt action.

Abbreviations are commonly used in various fields, such as in scientific research, where long and complex terms are often abbreviated for convenience and clarity. Abbreviations can be found in many areas, including formal writing, technical documents, legal texts, and even in casual conversations. They help us communicate more efficiently and quickly, especially in situations where brevity is important.

Example sentences

In the medical field, it’s important to accurately abbreviate medical terms for clarity.

When taking notes, I like to abbreviate long phrases to make them easier to review.

To speed up communication, we often abbreviate common phrases in text messages.

To fit the tweet’s character limit, I had to abbreviate my message using acronyms.

It’s common to abbreviate ‘Doctor’ as ‘Dr.’ in formal correspondence.

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