shrink
verb (used without object)
to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance.
has been shrinking
-
present perfect progressiveof shrink (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Landfill capacity in Scotland has been shrinking as operators wind down their operations ahead of a forthcoming ban on sending black bag waste to landfill sites.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
For four straight months, the share of loans to subprime borrowers has been shrinking — even though it’s up year over year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
For decades now, the percentage of Americans who call themselves Christian has been shrinking, and it’s not due to a lack of exposure to religion, but the opposite.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
The number of farmers in America has been shrinking for years, but rising costs and weak commodity prices are pushing more families out at a faster rate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026
Ever since, the earth has been shrinking periodically, and when it shrinks, its surface becomes wrinkled, and these wrinkles we call mountain ranges.”
From Unexplored! by Allen Chaffee
