CEFR B2

shrink

verb

Meaning

To become or make smaller in size, amount, or number.

Examples

The wool sweater will shrink if you wash it in hot water.
The company's profits shrank last quarter due to increased competition.

Synonyms: reduce, diminish, contract, lessen

Learn English that separates you from the crowd with Anaversity: private classes, Ani practice, Campus tools, and a public English-learning community.

shrink (B2)

verb

Pronunciation: /ʃrɪŋk/

Definition

To become or make smaller in size, amount, or number.

Examples

The wool sweater will shrink if you wash it in hot water.
The company's profits shrank last quarter due to increased competition.
As the population ages, the workforce is expected to shrink.

How to Use shrink

shrink from (prepositional phrase): To avoid doing something that you find unpleasant or difficult. — "He never shrinks from a challenge."
shrink back (phrasal verb): To move backward suddenly out of fear or disgust. — "The child shrank back from the loud noise."
shrink to (prepositional phrase): To become reduced to a specific, smaller size or amount. — "The company's workforce will shrink to 500 employees."

Synonyms of shrink

Words with a similar meaning to shrink:

Antonyms of shrink

Words with the opposite meaning to shrink:

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary