nutshell

noun

nut·​shell ˈnət-ˌshel How to pronounce nutshell (audio)
1
: the hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is enclosed
2
: something of small size, amount, or scope
Phrases
in a nutshell
: in a very brief statement

Examples of nutshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In a nutshell, parkour centers around getting from one point to another in the fastest way possible and often involves swiftly crawling and leaping through obstacles along the way. Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 But that counterintuitive mix of tones is Bob Trevino Likes It in a nutshell. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 And that list, in a nutshell, pretty much sums up the kind of creative chaos Big Mouth excels at. 02 John Mulaney (Andrew Glouberman) Friends on screen and in real life, the chemistry between John Mulaney (as Nick's best bud Andrew Glouberman) and Nick Kroll comes naturally. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 In a nutshell, what Thrive Market is all about is accessibility—in both senses of the word. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 And that’s become the Republican primary schedule in a nutshell. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 That, in a nutshell, is the limitation of this engrossing but under-powered sci-fi drama. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 In a nutshell, flexibility is about range of motion — the ability of joints, muscles and connective tissues to perform the full scope of their natural movements smoothly, without pain. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 His argument, in a nutshell, is that profits and rents will grow faster than wages and that over time there will be a growing gap between the owners of capital and wage earners. Robert Lawson, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nutshell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nutshell was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near nutshell

Cite this Entry

“Nutshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutshell. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nutshell

noun
nut·​shell ˈnət-ˌshel How to pronounce nutshell (audio)
: the shell of a nut
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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