shrink
verb (used without object)
to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance.
had been shrinking
-
past perfect progressiveof shrink.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, the amount of fentanyl intercepted at the border shrank by 41% between January and February, although it had been shrinking for several months already.
From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025
The company said its DVD rental business had been shrinking and it will not be able to continue to offer quality service.
From Reuters ● Apr. 18, 2023
The Starbucks and Amazon unionization efforts, both of which were started by workers with little to no backing from big unions, have shocked a labor movement that had been shrinking for decades.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 30, 2022
For much of the century, the coal industry had been shrinking as other energy sources and better paid jobs emerged.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2018
Ever since the animals had first appeared, Uncle Andrew had been shrinking further and further back into the thicket.
From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis
