- to reduce the length of (a written work) by condensing or rewriting
- to curtail; diminish
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
a•bridge /əˈbrɪdʒ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], a•bridged, a•bridg•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to shorten the length of:to abridge a speech from an hour to ten minutes.
a•bridge
(ə brij′),USA pronunciation v.t., a•bridged, a•bridg•ing.
a•bridg′a•ble, a•bridge′a•ble, adj.
a•bridg′er, n.
- to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents:to abridge a reference book.
- to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.;
diminish;
curtail:to abridge a visit; to abridge one's freedom. - to deprive;
cut off.
- Late Latin abbreviāre to shorten. See a-4, abbreviate
- Middle French abreg(i)er
- Middle English abreggen, abriggen 1350–1400
a•bridg′er, n.
- 1. cut down; epitomize; condense, abstract, digest. See shorten. 2. contract, reduce. 3. divest.
- 1. lengthen. 2. expand.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
abridge /əˈbrɪdʒ/ vb (transitive)
'abridge' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
curtail
- cut
- encapsulate
- epitome
- retrench
- A, a
- abr.
- abridgment
- amplify
- blue-pencil
- boil
- condense
- digest
- excerpt
- foreshorten
- hatchet
- reabridge
- red-pencil
- reduce
- restrict
- truncate
- shorten
- slash