short of

preposition

: other than
especially : of a lesser degree than
had few options short of replacing the motor

Examples of short of 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.
The Twins fell short of a sweep in the three-game series with Chicago earlier in the week. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 July 2025 Sabalenka, 27, of Belarus, fell just short of Wimbledon’s final round for the third time in the last five years. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 10 July 2025 That tandem had hired Dykes, and short of naming Satan the recruiting coordinator, the head coach was not going to be met with resistance. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025 Global platforms that dominate the job search space usually fall short of serving African professionals meaningfully. Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for short of

Word History

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short of was in 1560

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Cite this Entry

“Short of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20of. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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