shrink
verb (used without object)
to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance.
had shrunk
-
past perfectof shrink.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The state imprisonment rate in 2019 was the lowest it had been since 1988, and it had shrunk by 20% since 2007.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Pizza Hut’s share had shrunk to under 18% over that period.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
By 2018, however, that number had shrunk to 333, although coal output more than doubled.
From BBC ● May 31, 2026
The organization’s portfolio had shrunk from roughly $32 million to $2 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
The abundant self-confidence she felt while in her room had shrunk to the size of an acorn now that she was really here.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
