downsize

verb

down·​size ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz 

downsized; downsizing; downsizes

transitive verb

1

: to reduce in size

especially : to design or produce in smaller size

2

: to fire (employees) for the purpose of downsizing a business

intransitive verb

: to undergo a reduction in size

Synonyms

• reduce
• decrease

Examples of downsize in a Sentence

They have downsized the car's engine in the new model.

The company is planning to downsize next year.

The company will be downsized next year.

Recent Examples on the Web

His loving, pragmatic wife, Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), gamely downsizes their middle-class life to fit their new reality — but her resoluteness only exacerbates his despair. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025

By 2002, Casa de los Trucos had seven locations throughout South Florida and recently downsized to the original Calle Ocho location to make things more manageable for the Torres family. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee and Chicago is downsizing − which includes selling its headquarters. —La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025

Talk of downsizing and salary cuts is common. —Lavender Au, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for downsize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

downsize

verb

down·​size ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz 

: to reduce in size

the company downsized its staff to cut costs