shrink

[shringk]

verb (used without object)

shrank, shrunk, shrunk, shrunken, shrinking. 

1. to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance.

   to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.

   Synonyms: quail, recoil, withdraw

2. to contract or lessen in size, as from exposure to conditions of temperature or moisture.

   This cloth will not shrink if washed in lukewarm water.

3. to become reduced in extent or scope.

   Antonyms: increase

verb (used with object)

shrank, shrunk, shrunk, shrunken, shrinking. 

1. to cause to shrink or contract; reduce.

2. Textiles.,  to cause (a fabric) to contract during finishing, thus preventing shrinkage, during laundering, of the garments made from it.

noun

1. an act or instance of shrinking.

2. a shrinking movement.

3. shrinkage.

4. Also called head shrinker. Slang.,  Also a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.

shrink

/ ʃrɪŋk /

verb

1. to contract or cause to contract as from wetness, heat, cold, etc

2. to become or cause to become smaller in size

3. 1. to recoil or withdraw

      to shrink from the sight of blood

   2. to feel great reluctance (at)

      to shrink from killing an animal

noun

1. the act or an instance of shrinking

2. slang,  a psychiatrist

Other Word Forms

• shrinkable adjective
• shrinkingly adverb
• nonshrinkable adjective
• nonshrinking adjective
• nonshrinkingly adverb
• overshrink verb
• unshrinkable adjective
• unshrinking adjective
• unshrinkingly adverb
• shrinking adjective
• shrinker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrink¹

First recorded before 900, and in 1955–60 shrink for def. 9; Middle English schrinken, Old English scrincan; cognate with Middle Dutch schrinken, Swedish skrynka “to shrink,” Norwegian skrukka “old shrunken woman”

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrink¹

Old English scrincan; related to Old Norse skrokkr torso, Old Swedish skrunkin wrinkled, Old Norse hrukka a crease, Icelandic skrukka wrinkled woman

Synonym Study

See wince ¹. See decrease.

Example Sentences

The economy shrank by 1.6% in the second quarter, and a rebound in the months since has been tepid.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Market participation also has been shrinking since the event, as evidenced by futures data.

Read more on MarketWatch

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it.”

Read more on Literature

She motioned to the river, which had shrunk to half its usual size.

Read more on Literature

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector shrank in October for the eighth consecutive month, after a two-month expansion at the tail end of the Biden administration, the Institute for Supply Management reported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• decrease 
• diminish 
• drop off 
• dwindle 
• fall off 
• lessen 
• narrow 
• reduce 
• shorten 
• shrivel 
• wane 
• weaken 
• wither