Short-Lived (verb) describes something that exists or lasts only briefly. In everyday use, it often modifies nouns to indicate temporary duration, as in events, trends, or conditions that do not endure. The term conveys the sense of transience and passing quickly from one state to another.
"The meeting was short-lived and ended after twenty minutes."
"Many fashion fads are short-lived, fading within a season."
"Her interest was short-lived, and she moved on to something else."
"The power outage was short-lived, restored within an hour."
Short-lived is a compound of short, meaning of small duration, and lived, the past participle of live. Its origin traces to Old English and Middle English constructions where adjectives described duration, such as “short” (brief in time) and “lived” (having lived). The modern sense of duration attached to nouns or events emerged in Early Modern English, aligning with phrases like “short-lived fame” used by writers from the 16th century onward. The hyphenation became standard in the 19th and 20th centuries to clearly combine the two morphemes into a single descriptive adjective or adverbial phrase. The term is firmly established in both British and American usage, with similar frequency across literary and journalistic registers. Its pragmatic nuance—emphasizing fleeting nature—helps speakers convey that something exists only briefly rather than being inherently short in size or scope. First known printed uses appear in texts discussing transient states or phenomena, often in a critical or observational context about trends, reputations, or moments that vanish with time.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Short-Lived" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Short-Lived"
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Pronounce as SHORT-LIVD with primary stress on SHORT. IPA: US/UK/AU roughly ˈʃɔrt-ˌlɪvd. Start with a rounded, mid-back vowel in the first syllable, then a clear /t/ at the end of SHORTH, followed by a light, unstressed second syllable with a full vowel /ɪ/ and final /vd/ ensuring the /d/ is voiced. In connected speech, the dash is silent; you simply blend SHORT with LIVD, keeping a slight pause if needed for clarity before the second element.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing the /r/ in SHORT in non-rhotic accents, making SHOT-LIVED seem like SHOT-LID; (2) weakening the /t/ to a flap or glottal stop in rapid speech, which can blur the boundary between syllables; (3) pronouncing LIVD as LIV with a lax vowel or mispronouncing /v/ as /f/ at the end. To correct, maintain a crisp /t/ release, keep the /ɪ/ in LIVD distinct, and articulate the final /vd/ clearly with voiced /d/.
US: strong rhoticity on the /r/ in SHORT? actually SHORT has no rhotic in American; the focus is on /ɔr/ cluster with r-coloring; UK: same, but /ɒː/ quality can be broader; AU: tends toward a broader vowel in SHORTH with a slightly more centralized LIVD, but final /d/ is clear. Overall, all accents keep /t/ at end of SHORTH and /lɪvd/ as a light, quick second syllable; differences mainly in vowel quality of SHOR T and the degree of r-coloring and intonation.
The difficulty lies in blending a closed syllable after a consonant cluster /t-l/ across morpheme boundary, and preserving a clear /t/ release while keeping the subsequent /l/ and /ɪ/ in LIVD distinct. The second syllable has a reduced, unstressed vowel with a voiced /v/ followed by a final /d/. Non-native speakers often drop the /d/ or soften /t/; focus on the tight tongue-tip contact for /t/ and a light but audible /d/ to anchor the second syllable.
The word uniquely combines a prominent final consonant cluster in both syllables: a /t/ closing SHORTH and a /vd/ ending LIVD. Learners must maintain a clear boundary between the two morphemes yet connect them fluidly. It also tests accuracy in vowel quality of /ɔ/ in SHOR T and the short, lax /ɪ/ in LIVD, with proper voicing on the final /d/. Paying attention to precise tongue tip position for /t/ and controlled lip rounding for /v/ helps.
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